Former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar has backed Team India’s unwillingness to travel to Brisbane for the fourth Test. The fourth Test starts from December 15. Meanwhile, a recent COVID positive case has put the match in jeopardy. Gavaskar’s comments came in after the Queensland government announced a three-day lockdown in city post the positive case. A cleaner at a quarantine hotel in Brisbane tested positive for the highly contagious U.K. variant of Covid-19, prompting the state government to take drastic action.

Gavaskar said that if the Queensland government can think about the safety of its people, the BCCI also has the right to think about the safety and the security of their players.

“The Queensland Government is fully entitled to protect its people, and similarly I believe the Board of Control for Cricket India is fully entitled to protect its team. I think that’s something we must never forget,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying by 7 Cricket.

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Sunil Gavaskar Backs Team India’s Call on Brisbane Test

Sunil Gavaskar further said that it is unjustified for the Indian players if they are not allowed to mingle with each other after the day’s play and put them on hard quarantine instead. He said if the players can play together for 10 hours, they can also meet after the day’s play.

“What they’re saying is they should also be allowed to do something similar. You could have a situation where the ball goes into the crowd, somebody from the crowd touches the ball. One can understand that. One can understand why they’re feeling that way,” added Gavaskar.

Meanwhile, the BCCI has also formally requested Cricket Australia for relaxation of hard quarantine in Brisbane and the home board has given verbal assurances. The Indian board id still awaiting a written confirmation of the same.

Meanwhile, the recent lockdown in Queensland has posed big questions over Cricket Australia’s efficiency in carrying out the fourth Test. SCG is been seen as a backup venue in case Brisbane is not ready in time to host the Test match.

Previously former Indian batsman Aakash Chopra also criticised the Australian media for showing India in a bad light on their commitment to playing the Brisbane Test. The former Indian batsman said that the Australian media is creating a wrong image of Team India over the whole issue.

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