Reports: Team India's Vacation To Continue As Of Now Despite Delta-3 Variant Outbreak In England

Team India’s 20-day break in England will continue for now despite the steadily proliferating Delta variant in the country, a senior BCCI official has confirmed.

England Cricket Team was hit by Covid on Tuesday after three unnamed players and four members of the support staff tested positive for the Wuhan virus, 48 hours after the completion of the ODI series against England.

As a result, the entire squad that was supposed to lock horns against Pakistan in the upcoming ODI series has been forced into isolation.

England has now announced a completely fresh squad for the upcoming rubber against the Babar Azam-led unit, which will be led by superstar all-rounder Ben Stokes.

Post the Covid outbreak in the English camp, concerns have been raised regarding the safety of Indian cricketers, who are currently enjoying a 20-day break in different parts of England.

 

‘Team India players have not yet been told to cut short their downtime’- BCCI official

The Indian team is scheduled to convene in London on July 14 and proceed to Durham for a two-week training camp cum warm-up game against a Select County XI.

Once the players assemble in London, they will undergo Covid PCR tests before being allowed to enter the bio-bubble.

And, as of now, their vacation in England will continue.

A senior BCCI official told PTI that the governing body is aware of the evolving situation in England, which is currently seeing a sharp rise in Delta-3 variant cases.

The official said that the Indian contingent will strictly abide by any change in existing health protocols of the United Kingdom but as of now, there has been no update by the ECB regarding the change in the existing protocols.

”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.

Also Read- Ben Stokes To Lead, 9 Uncapped Players Receive Call-Up As England Announce ODI Squad For Pakistan Series