'BCCI seem to have a fair bit of power over people' - Andrew Symonds feels team India will get away with not playing in Brisbane

Before the crucial third Test against Australia, Team India has been facing the scrutiny from the Australian media. It all started after five Indian players – Rohit Sharma, Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and Navdeep Saini – allegedly breached the bio-bubble visiting a restaurant in Melbourne. The world came to know about the players’ outing after an Indian fan met them in the restaurant and  revealed it on Twitter.

In a series of tweets, the fan posted a photo of the players sitting at a table before stating that he paid their bills. The fan also claimed that Rishabh Pant hugged him and the players obliged for photographs too. However, he later clarified that Pant did not hug him after the players were accused of breaching the bio-bubble.

Also Read: An Indian fan pays the bill worth INR 6683 for Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Saini and Shubman Gill after spotting them in Melbourne restaurant

And while the Indian players were facing the heat, another report came out from the Indian camp, suggesting that the team was not keen on traveling to Queensland for the fourth Test over concerns of strict quarantine. The reports suggest that the Indian players are refusing to travel to Queensland if the state’s strict quarantine protocols and border restrictions remain.

Recently, a member of the Queensland government had made a statement regarding the matter. “If the Indians don’t want to play by the rules, don’t come,” the state’s Health Shadow Minister Ros Bates said.

Andrew Symonds’ views on the matter

While only time will tell whether Cricket Australia accepts Team India’s demand or not, former Australia batsman Andrew Symonds believes the visitors will likely get their way with the Gabba clash. Having seen the BCCI’s strong side in the past over the infamous clash with Harbhajan Singh, Andrew Symonds said he ‘can’t see India not getting their way’ over the venue issue.

“Have you ever had any dealings with the BCCI? They seem to have a fair bit of power over people. It comes down to probably what the Queensland government’s going to allow them to do … But I can’t see India not getting their way, to be honest with you,” Andrew Symonds told Fox Cricket.

Meanwhile, the BCCI has released a statement that all members of the Indian Cricket Team have tested negative for the novel coronavirus. Earlier today, the Indian contingent also left for Sydney for the third Test. The third Test is scheduled to be played from January 7 at the SCG.

“Playing members of the Indian Cricket Team and support staff underwent an RT-PCR Test for Covid-19 on January 3, 2021. All tests have returned negative results,” the BCCI said.