SYDNEY, Jan 8: Cricket Australia is forging ahead with plans to host the fourth Test at the Gabba after assurances from Queensland Health that it will be safe to do so.
Brisbane was put under a strict three-day lockdown on Friday as Queensland Health reacted swiftly to a positive test for the more infectious UK variant of COVID-19 in a hotel quarantine worker.
It was the latest twist in the battle to keep the fourth Test at the Gabba but CA is sticking steadfast in its determination to finish the summer against India in the sunshine state.
India’s main gripe with travelling to Brisbane thus far has been a fear Queensland Health will renege on the biosecurity arrangements signed off on by both cricket boards and health authorities on December 29 — fears that would not have been allayed by Friday morning’s announcement.
However, CA has been assured the lockdown will not lead to further impediments being put on either teams’ freedom.
As was agreed to by India’s cricket board in later December, players will be allowed to mingle with one another in their team hotels but will not be cooped up in their rooms as was the case when India first touched down in Australia for an initial 14-day hard quarantine.
On Thursday, Cricket Australia interim chief Nick Hockley held talks with BCCI secretary Jay Shah to assure him the December 29 deal would remain in place.
The talks were understood to be positive and CA has received no indication from the BCCI that India will not fly to Queensland.
However, there are reports that claimed India’s cricket board had written to CA for further assurances.
“The discussions are still on but today BCCI has formally sent a letter seeking relaxation of hard quarantine for its players if they are to have the match in Brisbane,” a senior BCCI official was quoted by the PTI.
“The MoU that was signed never mentioned about two hard quarantines. India have done one hard quarantine in Sydney (practice and back to hotel room),” he added.
“The BCCI’s demand is simple. The players want to mingle with each other inside the hotel bio-bubble like they did in the IPL. They want to have their meals together inside the hotel and also have the team meetings together. That’s not a big demand.”
The Gabba Test was expected to be played with an uncapped crowd. Although the lockdown is set to end before the first day, it would be a surprise if restrictions were not put in place on how many can attend the match.
The Sydney Test is being played in front of 10,000 with all attendants required to wear masks.
Smith bats for Gabba Test
Australia “would like to play” the fourth and final Test against India in Brisbane, batting mainstay Steve Smith said on Friday even as Queensland entered into a three-day coronavirus-forced lockdown casting fresh doubts on the fate of the match.
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. Smith said nothing changes for them as players.
Smith’s views came a day after the BCCI sought relaxation in Brisbane’s hard quarantine protocol. In case, Brisbane can’t host the Test or Indians refuse to travel, Sydney will be the backup venue.
Protecting players
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 COVID-19 cases in Brisbane. (Agencies)
