Reports: Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari And Coaching Staff To Spend Six Days In Quarantine In Dubai Before Australian Tour

Indian Test players like Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, and the coaching staff-led by Ravi Shastri are likely undergoing six-day mandatory quarantine in Dubai before flying for Australia with the rest of the national squad for the winter’s tour of Australia.

Team India is set to travel Down Under with an extended squad consisting of 22-25 members for the upcoming Test and white-ball series [3 ODIs and 3 T20Is] against the Aussies, given the fact that the series will be played in a bio-secure environment.

The BCCI is trying to work out the logistics for the smooth transfer of players from the bio-bubble in the UAE to another bio-secure environment in Australia, where they might have to undergo 14-day quarantine unless the rules are relaxed.

“The most feasible plan right now looks like entire team flying together from Dubai in one chartered flight. For that, the two Test specialists Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, along with our coaching staff of Ravi Shastri, Bharath Arun, Vikram Rathour and R Sridhar will arrive in Dubai, most probably at the end of this month,” a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

“In all likelihood, the non-IPL players and the coaching staff along with other support staff, would have to undergo a six-day quarantine with a separate bubble being created for them. They will also undergo tests on Days 1, 3 and 6. Once IPL is over, the squad will come together and fly out Down Under,” he said.

Indian players including non-IPL cricketers like Cheteshwar Pujara to travel to Australia directly from UAE

Earlier the plan was that non-IPL players will travel to Australia directly from India but given the fact that it is logistically easier as they will travelling from one bio-secure environment in UAE to that of Australia. It is still not clear that which city will be India’s port to entry in Australia and the duration of quarantine, the discussions for the same is currently being held with CA.

“Most of the playing members are in a secured bio environment. So it’s more feasible that we organise the bio-secure environment for the remaining contingent in Dubai itself for smooth operational purposes,” the source said. Cricket Australia had sent an initial itinerary for the tour but as of now there is possibility that dates and venues could change as per the COVID-19 situation in the country,” added the source.

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