Fund-starved Cricket Australia has received a shot in the arm as for the first time since novel Coronavirus outbreak, a Board of Control for Cricket in India official has put on record that the India is ready to go ahead with the scheduled tour Down Under later this year.
The BCCI is also not averse to the idea of the Indian cricket team’s two-week isolation in a hotel on arrival in Australia. Sydney Morning Herald has reported BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal as saying that the Indian team will spend a fortnight in isolation in Australia before the start of the cricket action.
“There is no choice everyone will have to do that. You would want to resume cricket. Two weeks is not that long a lockdown. That would be ideal for any sportsman because when you are in quarantine for such a long period, then going to another country and having a two-week lockdown it would be a good thing to do. We’ll have to see what the norms are post this lockdown,” the paper has quoted Dhumal as saying.
“Once we are sure when cricket will resume, then only will we be able to make a final call on that. Such discussion [on five Tests] took place before the lockdown. If there is a window available it would be up to the boards to decide whether they wanted to go for a Test match or maybe two ODIs or maybe two T20s.”
Cricket Australia had termed the home series against India worth A$ 300 mn ($200 mn). India is scheduled to play four Test matches Down Under in December and three One Day Internationals in January. Cricket Australia is proposing to extend the Test series by one more match, but the BCCI has not confirmed that as yet.
BCCI though seems to be in favour of more limited overs games. “Given the revenue loss they (Cricket Australia) will have on account of lockdown, post-lockdown they will want to have revenue and revenue most likely will come from ODIs or T20s much more than a Test match,” Dhumal added. “Once we are sure when cricket will resume, then only will we be able to make a final call on that (the five-Test series).”
Sports action in Australia is expected to resume with the Rugby League on May 28.