'I am only seeing him on video calls' - Washington Sundar's father staying away from him to ensure he is safe from COVID-19

The Indian men’s team is all prepared to take the flight on June 2 for England to clash with New Zealand in the much-anticipated World Test Championship final, which will be followed by five Tests against England starting from 4th August.

With a variety of Covid-19 related protocols in place, Indian team members will undergo a hard quarantine from May 19, running for two weeks, which will be followed by another 10-day quarantine upon reaching Southampton. Before boarding the flight and assembling in Mumbai, the players have also been asked to practice home quarantine, while they will also be undergoing three RT-PCR tests before joining the team bubble in Mumbai.

Amidst these essential practices, Washington Sundar’s father M Sundar has decided to stay away from his son to minimize the risk of him contracting the virus before he joins the team in Mumbai. Sundar’s father works as an administrative officer in the Income Tax department in Chennai, which needs him to go to his workplace at least 2-3 days every week, therefore exposing him to the risks associated with Covid-19.

I am only seeing him on video calls: M Sundar

Sacrificing his family time, M Sundar reveals that he has been seeing his son only on video calls as he is living separately from his family as a precaution to ensure his son’s health before an important tour of England.

“Since Washington returned home from the IPL, I have been staying in another house. My wife and daughter are staying with Washington since they don’t step out of the house. I am only seeing him on video calls. I am having to go to the office a few days in a week. I don’t want him to contract Covid because of me,” Sundar told The New Indian Express on Monday.

His father also revealed how much Washington has wanted to play Test cricket in England and what the upcoming opportunity means for him. “He has always wanted to play at Lord’s and at other venues in England. It has been a long-standing aim of his. He doesn’t want to miss out on this tour at any cost,” he said.