India, England, ICC World Test Championship Points Table
India. Image Credits: BCCI

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has sent their direct instructions to the Indian players to keep themselves safe and away from the covid-19, otherwise, they would be excluded from the tour of England.

Without mincing any words, a BCCI official has said that if any player who is scheduled to travel to England returns a positive covid-19 test upon arrival in Mumbai before entering the bio-bubble, then that player would be left out to fly to the UK for the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand and the following 5-Test series versus England.

The BCCI had announced a 20-man squad plus 4 standby players for the almost 4-month assignment. All the players are currently at their homes after the IPL 2021 was suspended due to an outbreak of covid-19 cases in 4 different franchises.

BCCI
BCCI. Image-PTI.

“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,” The Indian Express quoted a source as saying.

Two negative reports are required before they leave for Mumbai: BCCI source

The board has also allowed the players to take their families with them for a lengthy tour. The squad is expected to depart on June 2 after assembling in Mumbai from various parts of the country.

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Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson
Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson will clash in the final of the ICC World Test Championship in England (Photo-Getty)

A BCCI source also revealed that the RT-PCR tests will be conducted on the players’ families as well before departing for Mumbai. Upon landing in Mumbai, another test will be conducted before they enter their hotel for the bubble. The BCCI has to be extra cautious after the IPL 2021 fiasco.

“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 Daily quoted another BCCI source as saying.

Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Cheteshwar Pujara are the few Indian cricketers who have got their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Also Read: England Players Likely To Miss The Remaining IPL 2021, Says ECB Director Ashley Giles