BCCI requests Cricket Australia to relax quarantine rules for Rohit Sharma, Ishant Sharma

Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma’s injury case is showing absolutely no signs of clarity. Both the players are currently at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru for their respective rehab programmes. Ishant is at the NCA from October when he was ruled out of IPL 2020 with a muscle injury while Rohit joined the centre last week after suffering a hamstring injury in the tournament.

Both the players are in a race against time to be fit for the upcoming Test series in Australia, scheduled to start on December 17. Recent reports have suggested that both the players are expected to miss out on at least the first two matches because of their recovery schedule and the strict quarantine procedures in place in Australia.

As per the existing rules, anyone arriving in Australia needs to be in quarantine for 14 days. Thus, Rohit and Ishant will have to be in quarantine for two weeks if they finally get the green light to travel to Australia. Prior to that, the duo will have to clear the fitness test too.

BCCI asks for a relaxation

With neither Rohit Sharma nor Ishant Sharma close to recovering fully, the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly asked Cricket Australia to relax the COVID-19 quarantine norms for the duo. The BCCI will be desperate for Rohit and Ishant to join the Test team for the crucial series. Missing the duo will be a huge blow for the visitors who will also miss their skipper Virat Kohli for the last three Tests.

After the series-opener in Adelaide, Kohli is set to head back home to be with his wife Anushka Sharma for the birth of their first child. And to ensure that the experienced Rohit and Ishant join the team for the four-match series, the BCCI has asked CA to persuade the Australian government to relax quarantine norms.

“BCCI is in talks with CA, which in turn is negotiating with the Australian government about a relaxation in the quarantine rules (for the two players). If the rules are relaxed, then both Rohit and Ishant could be available for the (second) tour game,” a BCCI official told The Indian Express.

According to the report, there are ways through which travellers can get quarantine exemptions but they are required to take certain preventive steps beforehand to apply for the exemption.

“The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) recognises some other travellers should be exempt from quarantine requirements as long as they take steps to mitigate risk. These travellers must apply for a quarantine exemption in line with state and territory requirements,” read the Australian government’s health advisory.