The fourth Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia will go ahead as per the initial schedule, meaning that the teams will take the field at the Gabba in Brisbane on January 15.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had earlier written a formal letter to Cricket Australia (CA), expressing their reluctance to play the final Test in Brisbane due to the strict quarantine rules. The two cricketing bodies, however, reached a middle-ground on Sunday and it is expected that the Indian cricket team will leave Australia as soon as the match reaches its conclusion. Note that there has been no official communication regarding the same so far.
It was only a few days back that the state of Queensland had announced a 72-hour restriction after a virus case of the UK variant was confirmed. Queensland’s chief health officer, however, approved the teams' safety and quarantine management before giving a green signal for the final Test.
Team India went through a two-week quarantine protocol upon arriving for the full-fledged series in Australia. Since then though, the players have had more freedom in cities like Adelaide, Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne.
Meanwhile, BCCI's reluctance to play the final Test in Brisbane came on the back of a strict guideline, as they thought it would potentially affect India's long cricket series against England, which starts in February. Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting slammed the visitors for their decision to an extent that he went on stay 'they are trying to find an excuse not to go to Brisbane.'
With the fourth Test now going ahead as per the plan, both the teams will have an opportunity to either win or level the series with respect to the outcome of the result at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
Feature image courtesy: AFP / David Gray
