The Indian cricket team secured a thumping win over England in the 4th Test at the Oval but things aren’t all well at the management level. The news of head coach Ravi Shastri, fielding coach R Sridhar and bowling coach Bharat Arun testing positive for Covid-19 has left the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) miffed.
Head coach Shastri and captain Virat Kohli had both recently went to a public event in England for the launch of the former’s book. Kohli and Shastri didn’t take approval from England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for the same. The BCCI will now reportedly seek an explanation from Kohli and Shastri over their action.
“Photos from the event have been shared with BCCI officials. The board will probe the matter. This incident has left the board embarrassed. The coach and the captain will be asked to explain the circumstances after the fourth Test at Oval. The team’s administrative manager Girish Dongre’s role is also under the scanner,” a top BCCI official was quoted as saying by TOI on Monday.
“The BCCI is in touch with ECB and trying to ensure the series is completed without any further incidents. As of now, everyone is hoping that Shastri recovers soon. There is a selection meeting for the T20 World Cup on Wednesday. Maybe the matter will be raised there,” the official added.
With the UK government deciding to end all restrictions, the ECB also removed strict bio-bubble restrictions for the series against India. BCCI secretary, wary of the situation, had asked the players to avoid attending any public event during their stay in England in order to minimise the risk of contracting Covid-19.
Yet, with their latest actions, Shastri and Kohli seem to have defied the instructions from Shah. The entire situation has, hence, left the Indian board miffed, and now a strict bio-bubble regulation will be in place for the 5th and the final Test of the series in Manchester.
“This wasn’t an official event that either of the boards had organised. This incident is all the more unsettling because BCCI secretary Jay Shah had written to every team member before the series, asking them to be cautious and refrain from attending crowded events. The action of the team hasn’t gone down well with the board,” the official said.
“There will be a proper bubble in Manchester. There’s the IPL coming up in UAE five days after the fifth Test finishes. The players will have to move in a bubble to UAE, else they will have to serve quarantine period upon reaching Dubai. Hopefully, there won’t be any further incidents once the team enters the bubble,” the official said.
