Cricket Australia confirmed on Saturday that five Indian players, including Test Vice Captain Rohit Sharma, were isolated after they committed a possible violation of biosafety protocols while eating at a Melbourne restaurant earlier this week.
Australia and India are in the middle of a four-game test series and both teams are currently in Melbourne before traveling to Sydney for the third test from 7 January.
Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw and Navdeep Saini were reportedly seen eating at an indoor restaurant in Melbourne in a video posted on social media. The fan, who was apparently sitting near them, tweeted about receiving a hug from Pant, but later retracted the claim after raising serious doubts about a protocol violation.
Rohit Sharma was one of five players who were spotted at a Melbourne restaurant. (Twitter / @ NavalGeekSingh)
While BCCI’s top brass had initially ruled out any investigation on their part, Cricket Australia’s belated statement said a joint investigation is underway and the five have been isolated from the remaining team.
According to protocol, players can eat out, following the rules of social distancing.
“BCCI and CA are investigating the matter and seeking to determine whether the departure constitutes a violation of biosafety protocols,” Cricket Australia said in a statement.
The isolation protocols were implemented after consultation with the medical teams.
“… Following the advice of the medical teams, the aforementioned players have been isolated as a precaution. This will include separating the group of players from the larger teams in India and Australia when traveling and at the training site, ”said CA.
“The players, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw and Navdeep Saini, have been separated from the Indian and Australian teams, but will continue to train according to strict protocols.”
It is understood that in accordance with the biosecurity protocols provided by Cricket Australia, players were told not to eat in indoor restaurants. They are not supposed to use public transport, but they are allowed to wander around the cities where they are playing.
Questions are now being raised as to whether the managing director and cricket operations manager, who handles all modalities, knew the movement of the players and informed them about the specific rules for dining out.
India crushed Australia by eight wickets in the second test in Melbourne, making an incredible comeback days after the debacle in the opener of the four-game series in Adelaide.
(with PTI inputs)
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