Cricket Australia (CA) and the Indian cricket board (BCCI) have agreed against the need for a bio-secure environment for India’s four-Test tour in December. CA has assured BCCI the coronavirus was likely to be under control in Australia by year-end, making a traditional series possible at four different venues.
This will be the first marquee event in international cricket in the post-Covid world if CA is unable to stage the T20 World Cup as planned. The series, as proposed by CA, will start in Brisbane on Dec 3, following which Adelaide will host a day-night Test. The traditional Boxing Day and New Year Tests will be staged in Melbourne and Sydney as usual. The Adelaide Test will be India’s first day-night affair in Australia.
Uncertainty still looms over the tour, depending on the spread of the coronavirus and travel restrictions in the respective countries at that time. Whether spectators will be allowed inside the stadiums will depend on government regulations at that time. It is understood that the venues may change to one stadium only if the coronavirus situation worsens in Australia.
“We have no problems with the itinerary. If they (CA) are confident of hosting the series in the traditional way, then nothing like it. They think they have the situation under control there. But both boards will take regular stock of things. There will be flexibility in the schedule,” BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal said.
The series is expected to fetch cash-strapped CA around $300 million. The Australian board has been hit especially hard by the pandemic, with big doubts over the staging of the T20 World Cup in Oct-Nov. If that event is postponed, it can open up a window for the Indian Premier League (IPL) to be staged at that time.
“It’s not that the BCCI is pushing for the T20 World Cup to be postponed. It’s between CA and ICC. If CA can assure ICC that they can host the World Cup, BCCI won’t object. This will be discussed in the ICC meeting,” a top BCCI official said.
