BCCI has informed its England-bound India players that if they test positive after landing in Mumbai before embarking on the tour, they can consider themselves out of the trip.
BCCI warns Team India
Virat Kohli led India team is scheduled to fly out on June 2 to play the World Test Championship final against New Zealand, followed by a five-Test series against England.
“The players have been informed to consider their tour over if they are found positive on their arrival in Mumbai as BCCI will not arrange another charter flight for any cricketer,” a source in the Indian board informed.
The board has also asked the team members to take the first jab of the Covishield vaccine in India and BCCI will arrange for their second doses in England.
As the AstraZeneca vaccine available in England is a version of Covishield, the BCCI can make the second dose available for its players there.
“The players, support staff and families will be tested and two negative reports are required before they leave for Mumbai. It will be done in order to ensure that they are coming into the bubble without any infection. The players have also been given the option to travel by air or car to reach Mumbai. For vaccination, BCCI has informed the players to take Covishield which they can get in England, and not Covaxin,” the BCCI source informed.
Players like Virat Kohli, Ishant Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara and Umesh Yadav took their first vaccine doses on Monday while a few players will be taking them in the coming days. The BCCI has asked players to get in touch if they don’t have access to the Covishield vaccine, and the Board will arrange it for them.
Quarantine issue
The BCCI is still to finalise the number of days the Indian players will have to undergo quarantine. The board wants 14 days’ quarantine in India and another 10 days in England before they play the World Test Championship final. The players don’t want a hard quarantine and want some relaxation while being in isolation in India.
