The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not satisfied with the comments made by Queensland Health Shadow Minister Ros Bates regarding quarantine guidelines for the fourth Test in Brisbane. The Indian board believes that the remarks highlight the team’s image in poor light and was totally uncalled for.
The BCCI is now rethinking if it should scrap the fourth Test in Brisbane and finish the tour with the New Year’s Test in Sydney.
A BCCI official in the know of developments spoke to ANI and said that the Indian board has joined hands with Cricket Australia in ensuring that the Test series goes ahead without any troubles and therefore, Bates’ comments should have been avoided.
According to the official, if a public representative does not want the team to go and play, it is hurtful. Citing the example of Rohit Sharma undergoing a strict quarantine period of 14 days after landing in Sydney, the official added that trying to portray that the Indian team does not want to abide by the rules is sad.
“The statement made by the public representative portrays Indians in poor light and let me assure you, we do not want to do anything other than to abide by the rules, and Rohit Sharma’s strict quarantine is a case in point. To try and propagate a view that we don’t wish to follow the rules is unacceptable and the tone and tenor, in which it was said seemed rife with hostility and bordered on racism. It is, therefore, not a surprise that a rethink is on the cards.”
“If a representative of the public does not want us there, it is hurtful and the last thing we want is to upset the Australian fans who have given us so much love and support over the years. We do not wish to make it difficult for them or for Cricket Australia.” the official said.
Questions were raised on whether the Indian team will follow strict quarantine protocols for the final match of the series at The Gabba. Speaking about the same Bates said, “If the Indians don’t want to play by the rules, don’t come.”
Queensland’s Shadow Sports Minister, Tim Mander, supported Bates’ comments and said “If the Indian cricket team wants to spit the dummy and disregard quarantine guidelines in Brisbane for the fourth Test, then they shouldn’t come.”
“The same rules must apply for everyone. Simple,” he added.
According to Cricket Australia interim boss, Nick Hockley, the series will go ahead as scheduled as the BCCI is yet to roll out a formal statement regarding the fourth Test match at Brisbane.
“We have had nothing formal from the BCCI to suggest anything other than they are supportive. We speak to our counterparts in BCCI daily and we have clarified in the last 24 hours what the precise requirements are in Brisbane.”
“There has been some reporting that the players will be confined to their rooms – that’s not the case. Typically for a Test match, players arrive at the ground between 8 am to 9 am and they are there until 6 or 7 pm at night, and then it’s back to the hotel to rest and recuperate and they will be able to mix within their groups. So everyone’s fully across that, and supportive,” he added.