The Indian team management has a complaint against six New Zealand players for a possible breaching of bio-bubble protocol ahead of World Test Championship Final in Southampton. They complain to ICC that six players visited the nearby golf course while Indian players and their family remained on the floor of their hotel.
According to reports published by Cricbuzz, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Daryl Mitchell and physio Tommy Simsek left the bio-bubble to visit the golf course on Tuesday morning. The manager of Team India made a representation to ICC about this incident to inform about a possible breach of bio-bubble.
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The golf course is situated in the stadium premise and Team India demanded uniformity while applying the rules to both teams.
“The players and families have all been formally told not to move out of their respective floors inside the hotel unless it is for visiting the ground. Now, this morning we came to know six Kiwis playing in the golf course,” a team member told Cricbuzz.
Meanwhile, ICC has cleared that there was no breach of bio-bubble and Team India is also allowed to move freely around the bio-bubble areas as they have finished their isolation period. They also mentioned that golf course is included in the bio-secure environment.
New Zealand moved directly from ECB’s bio-bubble for the Test series to one prepared for the WTC Final.
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Talking about the incident, Hampshire County chief Rod Bransgrove said, “I am not at the ground today but I would imagine, if it is true, that they have permission to play in a discreet group which may be overseen by security.”
Meanwhile, BCCI named a 15-men squad for WTC Final while dropping nine players from the squad.
India’s 15-member squad for the WTC Final: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Siraj, Hanuma Vihari, Wriddhiman Saha, Umesh Yadav.
