Negotiations in progress between BCCI and ECB for soft quarantine in England for players – Reports

Negotiations in progress between BCCI and ECB for soft quarantine in England for players – Reports

BCCI

The final of the World Test Championship (WTC) is set to take place in a month’s time and amid the pandemic, preparations are in place for the safe travel and accommodation of the players. Both the Indian men’s and women’s teams will travel together due to the two sides having tours of England at the same time. Now, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly negotiating for a soft quarantine period for the players.

The BCCI has arranged charter flights already for players from Chennai, Hyderabad and Delhi bound for Mumbai today. There will then be a two week hard quarantine for the players with the exception of people from Mumbai who are exempted for a period of five more days if they have quarantined at home. The teams will then embark on the journey to London before they go to Southampton (men) and Bristol (women).

BCCI and ECB are negotiating – Reports

Indian Test Team
Indian Test Team

According to a reports from TOI, the BCCI is involved in a ‘bargaining’ process with ECB with regard to the conditions of quarantine upon reaching the UK. The board has asked that players be subject to a soft quarantine where they can train for the all-important WTC final instead of being isolated in the hotel rooms.

“There may be a hard quarantine for a few days and then the players could be allowed to train. In Australia last November, the players were in hard quarantine for three days and then they were allowed to train. But the players could not move out of their hotel rooms after practice. Something similar is being mooted this time too,” stated a BCCI official.

The BCCI reportedly wants at least 10 days of practice for the players so that they are in perfect shape for the final. It is noteworthy that the New Zealanders will have ample preparation in the form of a two-match series before the final against England.

Further, the BCCI official also revealed that there were talks which were going on to play the IPL in England by shortening the Test series between India and England. “BCCI and the ECB are in discussions to tweak the five-Test series. Details of those discussions aren’t public yet. But in whichever manner the ECB agrees to tweak the Test series, they will want the IPL in England because the counties can earn from it. There’ll be a good chance of a quid pro quo,” he said.

It remains to be seen if this plan will materialize.

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