Queensland government members tell Indian team don’t come to Brisbane if you can’t play by the rules
The Brisbane Test is in jeopardy amid reports the Indian squad is refusing to travel to Queensland if strict quarantine protocols remain.
The Daily Telegraph reporting that senior Indian sources believe further restrictions would have a negative impact on mentally exhausted players.
The Australian side has already been informed it will be kept in hotel rooms when not training or playing but the Indian team is yet to receive confirmation.
India’s cricket chief Sourav Ganguly said way back in July that the team would tour Australia but called for shortened quarantine periods for players.
“We don’t want the players to go all that far and sit in hotel rooms for two weeks. It is very, very depressing and disappointing,” he said at the time.
That is supported by the report from Cricbuzz, with a source inside the Indian team telling the news site that they are not keen on travelling to Brisbane in the current environment.
“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,” the source told Cricbuzz
“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.
“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.”
But Queensland government members hit back on Sunday.
The state’s Health Shadow Minister Ros Bates bluntly said: “If the Indians don’t want to play by the rules, don’t come.”
Queensland’s Shadow Sports Minister Tim Mander also dismissed India’s complaints.
“If the Indian cricket team wants to spit the dummy and disregard quarantine guidelines in Brisbane for the fourth Test, then they shouldn’t come,” Mander said.
“The same rules must apply for everyone. Simple.”
Australian middle-order batsman Matthew Wade firmly indicated his side’s desire to play at the Gabba — a venue Australia hasn’t lost at since 1988.
“The schedule has been rolled out and we prefer to stick to that,” Matthew Wade told reporters on Sunday afternoon.
“There was speculation about staying in Melbourne, but we prefer to stick to the schedule rolled out at the start of the summer, so I would expect to go to the Gabba regardless.
“If it went two games back-to-back at the SCG, it would obviously not be something that we would want to do ... there’s no secrets we love the Gabba and we want to get there.”
Meanwhile, there are additional concerns surrounding the Sydney Test with predicted wet weather providing another headache.
Showers are forecast for Thursday, Friday and Saturday and the concern is that it could lead to spectators huddling undercover at the SCG.
“There are some concerns about the SCG and the upcoming Test that (NSW) Health is working with those organisers,” NSW acting premier John Barilaro said to media on Sunday.
“We’ve got to deal with some issues around wet weather, if that was to apply over the few days.”
Residents with a postcode in the Cumberland area are also set to be barred from attending the Test.
“The other thing we’re concerned about is because of the Berala cluster if you’re coming from that area, the broader Cumberland area in real terms, we’re almost encouraging you to rethink about going to the Test,” Barilaro added.
It all comes in the wake of reports that five Indian players allegedly breached the bubble by dining in an indoor restaurant while one reportedly hugged a member of the public.
Barilaro said it would be up to the Queensland government to decide whether they want to host the fourth Test if there were concerns with the potential breaches.
“If we’re going to put on an alternative Test after that because of what’s happened with the breaches (by India’s players), well that’s up to the Queensland government.
“That bubble is to protect the players and community.
“If those breaches have impacted the conditions that the Queensland government have applied to the Indian cricket team, well that’s something for the Queensland government to make a decision about.”
https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...n/news-story/82ad25f75a861a9a5c29bb8b32f79aec
The Brisbane Test is in jeopardy amid reports the Indian squad is refusing to travel to Queensland if strict quarantine protocols remain.
The Daily Telegraph reporting that senior Indian sources believe further restrictions would have a negative impact on mentally exhausted players.
The Australian side has already been informed it will be kept in hotel rooms when not training or playing but the Indian team is yet to receive confirmation.
India’s cricket chief Sourav Ganguly said way back in July that the team would tour Australia but called for shortened quarantine periods for players.
“We don’t want the players to go all that far and sit in hotel rooms for two weeks. It is very, very depressing and disappointing,” he said at the time.
That is supported by the report from Cricbuzz, with a source inside the Indian team telling the news site that they are not keen on travelling to Brisbane in the current environment.
“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,” the source told Cricbuzz
“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.
“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.”
But Queensland government members hit back on Sunday.
The state’s Health Shadow Minister Ros Bates bluntly said: “If the Indians don’t want to play by the rules, don’t come.”
Queensland’s Shadow Sports Minister Tim Mander also dismissed India’s complaints.
“If the Indian cricket team wants to spit the dummy and disregard quarantine guidelines in Brisbane for the fourth Test, then they shouldn’t come,” Mander said.
“The same rules must apply for everyone. Simple.”
Australian middle-order batsman Matthew Wade firmly indicated his side’s desire to play at the Gabba — a venue Australia hasn’t lost at since 1988.
“The schedule has been rolled out and we prefer to stick to that,” Matthew Wade told reporters on Sunday afternoon.
“There was speculation about staying in Melbourne, but we prefer to stick to the schedule rolled out at the start of the summer, so I would expect to go to the Gabba regardless.
“If it went two games back-to-back at the SCG, it would obviously not be something that we would want to do ... there’s no secrets we love the Gabba and we want to get there.”
Meanwhile, there are additional concerns surrounding the Sydney Test with predicted wet weather providing another headache.
Showers are forecast for Thursday, Friday and Saturday and the concern is that it could lead to spectators huddling undercover at the SCG.
“There are some concerns about the SCG and the upcoming Test that (NSW) Health is working with those organisers,” NSW acting premier John Barilaro said to media on Sunday.
“We’ve got to deal with some issues around wet weather, if that was to apply over the few days.”
Residents with a postcode in the Cumberland area are also set to be barred from attending the Test.
“The other thing we’re concerned about is because of the Berala cluster if you’re coming from that area, the broader Cumberland area in real terms, we’re almost encouraging you to rethink about going to the Test,” Barilaro added.
It all comes in the wake of reports that five Indian players allegedly breached the bubble by dining in an indoor restaurant while one reportedly hugged a member of the public.
Barilaro said it would be up to the Queensland government to decide whether they want to host the fourth Test if there were concerns with the potential breaches.
“If we’re going to put on an alternative Test after that because of what’s happened with the breaches (by India’s players), well that’s up to the Queensland government.
“That bubble is to protect the players and community.
“If those breaches have impacted the conditions that the Queensland government have applied to the Indian cricket team, well that’s something for the Queensland government to make a decision about.”
https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...n/news-story/82ad25f75a861a9a5c29bb8b32f79aec
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) well said.
. This is fun.
