'If Indians Don’t Want To Play By The Rules, Don’t Come,’ Queensland Government Responds Amid Reports Of Team India's Reluctance To Travel To Brisbane
Updated - 03 Jan 2021, 01:34 PM
With the reports of Team India being reluctant to travel to Brisbane for the 4th and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy emerging, members of the Queensland government have come up with a blunt reply, saying that if the tourists shouldn’t come to Brisbane if they do not want to abide by the protocols laid out for any travelers coming from New South Wales.
India is scheduled to travel to Queensland via a chartered flight from Sydney (New South Wales) following the culmination of the New Year Test. However, with the Queensland government closing their borders off with New South Wales, the tourists could be in for another hard quarantine upon their arrival to Brisbane.
The Indian team has already spent a total of 28 days- 14 in Dubai and 14 in Sydney- in isolation and is reluctant to undergo another one in Brisbane, and have reportedly urged Cricket Australia to schedule both the 3rd and 4th Test in Sydney.
“If you look at it, we were quarantined 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,” a source in the Indian team was quoted as saying by 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.
Reacting to India’s reluctance, Shadow Minister Ros Bates told 7News that-
“If the Indians don’t want to play by the rules, don’t come,”
Today I was asked about reports the Indian Cricket Team wants quarantine restrictions eased just for them, ahead of the upcoming Gabba Test. My response ? #Cricket #IndiavsAustralia @ICC @CricketAus pic.twitter.com/MV7W0rIntM
— Ros Bates MP (@Ros_Bates_MP) January 3, 2021
Echoing Bates comments, Shadow Sports Minister, Tim Mander has said that there is no room for breaking protocols and that every individual travelling to Queensland will have to abide by the rules.
“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. The same rules must apply for everyone. Simple,” Mander said.
It is understood that the Australian players have been informed of the looming quarantine in Brisbane, however, the same hasn’t yet been communicated to India.
