Issuing a statement on the alleged bio-bubble breach by Team India players, Cricket Australia has said that 5 players from the touring party have been ‘separated’ from the squad and have been placed under isolation. These players are Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw and Navdeep Saini. While the aforementioned players have been allowed to train, the BCCI and Cricket Australia have launched an investigation into the matter.
“The players – Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw and Navdeep Saini – have been separated from the Indian and Australian squads but will still train ‘in accordance with the strict protocols that have been put in place’ to ensure the ongoing safety of all members of the Indian and Australian squads,” said a Cricket Australia statement on Saturday
“In the interim, on the advice of the Australian and Indian medical teams, the aforementioned players have been placed in isolation as a precaution. This will include separating the group of players from the broader Indian and Australian squads when travelling and at the training venue,” the statement added.
Previously, a BCCI official on condition of anonymity had shunned the reports of bio-bubble breach by the Indian players in Australia. Speaking to PTI, the BCCI official said that the touring party is ‘well-aware’ of the stringent COVID-19 protocols. The Board member also termed the speculations as a ‘malicious spin’ by the Australian media. An official comment from the BCCI is still awaited.
“No, there has been no breach in bio-security protocols. Everyone associated with the Indian team is well aware of the protocols. We can only term it as a malicious spin by a section of Australian media and this has started after their humiliating defeat,” PTI had quoted a BCCI senior official aware of the matter.
