Australia vs India: Brisbane Test in threat amid fresh three-day lockdown in the city

India is up against Australia for a four-match Test series, and the third Test is currently being played in Sydney Cricket Ground. Indian management was already reluctant to play the fourth Test in Brisbane owing to strict COVID-19 quarantine rules in the city. Both the cricket boards were supposed to talk out the issue as the Test is set to begin on January 15. In the latest turn of events, a fresh lockdown of three days in Brisbane has put Cricket Australia in worry.

Desperate efforts are being made to hold the fourth Test match between two cricketing giants of the world. The lockdown came within 24 hours after board officials from India were in talks with Cricket Australia to relax quarantine rules in Brisbane. Seeing the new lockdown and fresh COVID-19 cases, the match has been dealt with a severe blow for now.

“Cricket Australia executives are urgently trying to determine the impact of a three-day lockdown in Brisbane on next week’s fourth Test at the Gabba, which was already under a cloud because of India’s hesitation to fly north and be subjected to tighter bio-security restrictions. A hotel quarantine worker’s positive test to the more contagious UK strain of COVID-19 is the latest spanner in the works for CA’s hopes to close out the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series at the Gabba,” said an official as quoted by Times Now.

India wrote letter to CA officials for relaxing quarantine rules in Brisbane

Cricket Australia was all set to allow the capacity of 36,000 spectators in the stadium, and seeing the current status, the board might have to rethink all the plans. On January 6, BCCI addressed a letter to the CA official asking for lenient quarantine rules in Brisbane. Visitors have already completed their quarantine right after arriving in Australia, and this scenario is affecting their mental health.

The quarantine rules in Brisbane stated that players would remain confined to their hotel room after a day’s play. Though CA has assured them verbally that players will be allowed to move out of their room when not playing, India needs a written assurance on the matter.