Brisbane Test is under Covid cloud

Sydney, Jan. 8: A new three- day lockdown in Brisbane has put Cricket Australia in a spot of bother as it makes desperate efforts to hold the fourth and final Test against India in the Queensland state capital from January 15.

The Lockdown was announced less than 24 hours after top cricket board officials from India and Australia were engaged in a discussion on relaxation of hard quarantine measures for the visitors.

“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 biosecurity restrictions,” the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

“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 BorderGavaskar Trophy series at the Gabba,” it further wrote.

While Cricket Australia were ready to allow a capacity crowd of 36,000, the fluid health situation might warrant a change in the spectator policy.

“The health scare in the city, however, has left those attendance caps in jeopardy,” the newspaper stated.

On Thursday, The BCCI wrote to CA seeking relaxation in hard quarantine protocol of Brisbane, reminding the host board that the visitors are done with the strict isolation that was agreed upon at the beginning of the tour.

The quarantine rules in Brisbane will restrict the players to just their hotel rooms after day’s play.

GAVASKAR BATS FOR THE BCCI

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar on Friday said that BCCI is only “protecting its players” by seeking a quarantine relaxation ahead of the fourth Test, just like Queensland health authorities are entitled to shield their people in the wake of fresh Coronavirus cases in Brisbane.

“The Queensland government is fully entitled to protect its people. Similarly I believe the BCCI is fully entitled to protect its team. I think that’s something we should never forget,” Gavaskar said during commentary on Channel 7.

Gavaskar said that Indian team is not unjustified in demanding that if the players are together at the ground for 10 hours, they should be at least allowed to mingle in the hotel. —