The Indian team, which is currently in England for a five-match test series, is continuing their 20-day break as of now even when England has been facing the COVID-19 cases. On the other hand, the England ODI team has been forced to stay in isolation after the coronavirus has attacked the squad. Three England players and four support staff members have tested positive for the deadly virus as well just two days after the end of their ODI series against Sri Lanka.
However, England were forced to announce a new team under the leadership of Ben Stokes for the upcoming One Day International series against Pakistan. On the other hand, the Indian players will re-assemble in London on July 14 and proceed to Durham for a two-week training and first-class game against Select County XI as well.
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“We are aware of the situation. Obviously, ECB and the local health authorities will provide us with any change in existing health safety protocols and that will be strictly followed,” a senior BCCI official told PTI conditions of anonymity. “But we haven’t been told anything as of now. The players have not yet been told to cut short their downtime,” he added.
However, currently, most of the players are enjoying time with their families in and around London and even a few are in the countryside too. And after they assemble in London, they will be tested again and then they will be allowed to enter the bio-bubble. Notably, England has seen facing a rise in Delta-3 variant cases as well.
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“We’re in unprecedented territory in terms of replacing an entire squad and management team,” said Ashley Giles, director of England’s men’s cricket. “We have been mindful that the emergence of the delta variant, along with our move away from the stringent enforcement of bio-secure environments, could increase the chances of an outbreak,” ECB chief executive Tom Harrison said.”We made a strategic choice to try to adapt protocols, in order to support the overall wellbeing of our players and management staff who have spent much of the last 14 months living in very restricted conditions.”
