Apex cricketing body of the country, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has said that it is willing to send its players’ to tour Sri Lanka for a six-match white-ball cricket series, provided the government permits them.
The treasurer of BCCI, Arun Dhumal, suggested that the Indian team will travel to the island nation only if it doesn’t compromise the safety and the health of players.
“It all depends on government directives pertaining to lockdown relaxations and travel restrictions. We are open to travel if it doesn’t compromise the safety and health of our boys,” Dhumal said.
The statement came in the aftermath of Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC) Board’s plea to BCCI, offering to host the Men in Blue behind closed doors for a three-match ODI and T20I series.
The proposed window of the series is by the end of July, provided they were ready to undergo quarantine rules and regulation.
India’s last piece of cricketing action came during the New Zealand tour where they lost the two-match Test series by 2-0.
The Indian players were scheduled to take part in the thirteenth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) before the tournament was suspended indefinitely.
Since then, the players have been confined to their residence due to the nationwide lockdown imposed on March 25.
Earlier, the likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami talked about proper training camps for at least four weeks before they take part in any cricketing action.
The players residing in metropolitan cities do not have adequate space to keep themselves going amid lockdown period. Some of them do not even have space to run.
Apart from the internal issues, international travel is prohibited in the majority of countries due to the rampant spread of COVID-19 pandemic. It appears highly unlikely that the tour would be conducted, given the short notice period.
“If the BCCI is saying they are ready to tour, that’s just smokescreen. They are telling Sri Lanka, we are willing to honour bilateral commitments,” an anonymous source confirmed.
