Jay Shah's letter ensured players stayed away from Euro 2020 & Wimbledon finals
MUMBAI: A three-week break for Indian cricketers is a rarity these days, given their packed schedules. However, members of the Indian team, including the coaching and support staff, managed just that post the World Test Championship final.
The entire unit enjoyed a long holiday in the United Kingdom for around 20-odd days before regrouping once again in London this week. They are now ready to start preparing for the first Test match against England starting August 4.
The Indian team will leave London on Thursday and head to Durham, two-and-half-hours away from Trent Bridge, the venue for the first Test match against England, to play the two warm-up matches. The first is a four-day game scheduled against a combined county XI starting July 20, followed by an intra-squad game in the last week.
On July 30, the Indian team will travel to Nottingham.
During this window, the cricketers - who had received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine in India before flying out - also got their second dose in the UK earlier this month.
Given the recent spate of Covid cases in England, team-members stayed away from attending the Euro 2020 final at Wembley and the Wimbledon final this Sunday. Despite having match-tickets for the England-Italy clash, the team decided to watch the game from the confines of the team hotel.
A good reason for doing so is also because of an email that BCCI secretary Jay Shah shot to the team members last week, asking them to ensure that all Covid-related protocols are being taken and crowded places are being avoided at all costs.
"I trust you and your family members are doing well and enjoying the three-week break before the tour commences. I have been made aware of the existing coronavirus situation in the United Kingdom.
"While the vaccination drive is going ahead in full steam, there has been a sharp rise in the number of positive cases being recorded daily.
"BCCI's excellent working relationship with the ECB has enabled us to administer a second dose of the vaccine to you and your family members," Shah wrote.
However, he went on to add in the letter that while the vaccine boosts one's "fighting capacity" against the virus, it does not guarantee total immunity or complete resistance.
"In fact, the new variant is spreading rapidly, and we are not out of the danger zone. You may be aware that the ECB was forced to field another team to play against Pakistan and even the white-ball series between India and Sri Lanka white-ball had to be postponed.
"In view of this, it is advisable that places of mass congregation, crowded shopping malls/stores and eateries and watering holes be avoided by you in the best interest of everyone," Shah wrote.
The email ensured that the Indian team stayed away from the Euro and Wimbledon and, in general, from venturing out in public.
Follow protocols, players told
The BCCI has asked the team to "understand the gravity of the situation, follow protocols and stay within the team environment, which is a more controlled one".
"Also, barring the unfortunate injury to Shubhman (Gill), all the remaining 23 members are available for selection, which is a good sign. What's also pleasing is the way Abhimanyu Easwaran is finding his feet within the team. He'll hit the nets starting the day after and we'll get to know a bit more about him from the perspective of this series," say those tracking developments.
