India vs Australia: Indian team reluctant to travel to Brisbane for fourth Test


India vs Australia: Indian team reluctant to travel to Brisbane for fourth Test
Indian cricket team
Indian cricket team

According to sources from the Indian camp, the team has reportedly expressed reservations with traveling to Brisbane where the fourth Test is scheduled to take place. The reason for the same is that on travelling to Brisbane, a hard lockdown might be imposed on them that includes the curbing of their movement.

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The camp has reportedly been certain that once they the first 14-day quarantine was over, they must have freedom of movement. However, with the rising COVID-19 cases around Australia, it now seems that a restriction on their movement will be put forth if they travel to Brisbane for the fourth Test from Sydney where the third Test will take place.

‘We don’t want another quarantine’

Brisbane Gabba
Brisbane Gabba

A source from the Indian camp reportedly talked to Cricbuzz and stated the reason for the team’s reservations saying, “If you look at it, we were quarantining for 14 days in Dubai before landing in Sydney and doing so for another 14 days. That means we were in a hard bubble for nearly a month before coming out. What we don’t want now is to quarantine again at the end of the tour.”

“We aren’t keen on going to Brisbane if it means being stuck in the hotel again, except for going to the ground. Instead we don’t mind being in some other city, playing both Test matches there to complete the series and returning home,” he added reportedly.

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As of now, the schedule is for India to travel to Sydney on the 4th of January before the Test on the 7th. Both teams will receive exemptions with regard to travel. Now, with regard to Queensland and Brisbane, that won’t be case and there is a prospect of a quarantine in a hotel.

“We understand the complexity of what’s happening currently. Cricket Australia and we have cooperated at every step with regards to following the protocols within the bubble. But we were expecting to be treated in the same vein as ‘normal Australians’ in terms of restrictions once we completed that initial quarantine in Sydney,” the source said.

“All we’re saying is the boys have been in various states of lockdowns and bubbles for nearly six months now. And it’s not been easy for anyone. If you look at it, we are one of only two teams who have had zero issues while being on a tour during this pandemic. After all this time, what we don’t want is to be sent into another hard bubble, which seems will be the case in Brisbane,” the source further said.

Also Read: India vs Australia: “Ashwin knows exactly what he wants to do,” says Pragyan Ojha

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