The Indian team’s tour to Australia continues to make headlines throughout. There is always something going viral about the Border-Gavaskar series. A media report has gone viral which states that the Indian players were forced to clean their bathrooms and make their own beds. It is also being said that the BCCI Chief expressed his displeasure over the treatment being accorded to Indian players. What is the truth behind these reports? Did Indian players really clean the bathrooms?
The Coronavirus pandemic has turned the whole world topsy-turvy, leaving several people dead. In a way, the deadly virus has altered human life. Though people thought this phase would pass with 2020, even in 2021 the situation remains the same. Now, even the Indian team touring Australia is facing troubles due to Covid crisis. The Australian Cricket Board has imposed several strict restrictions which include mandatory testing and quarantine. It is in this scenario, that reports emerged of Indian cricketers being forced to clean their own bathrooms.
Bio ’Bubble’ rules
Cricket Australia has enforced strict rules for the touring Indian cricket team by placing each cricketer within a bio-secure bubble. According to these rules, no outsiders are allowed to come in physical contact with the Indian players. As a result, the whole hotel housing the Indian cricketers has been emptied. In this context, the housekeeping and room service staff were also asked to leave the hotel. Even access to basic amenities like the gym and the swimming pool have been restricted. The food for players has also been arranged from an Indian restaurant nearby and is being served directly to their rooms. In other words, the Indian team is imprisoned in the hotel.
Is Sourav Ganguly furious?
The fourth Test between India and Australia is currently being played at the Gabba stadium in Brisbane. The match which began on the 15th January will be held till 19th January. Now the Indian players have been lodged in a 5-star hotel named Sofitel, which is just four kilometres away from the stadium. It is in this hotel, that the players had to clean their own bathrooms and make their own beds. Reports state that the BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has taken the issue very seriously and has even held talks with Cricket Australia officials over the issue.
“We are locked up in our rooms, have to make our own beds, clean our own toilets. Food is coming from a nearby Indian restaurant which will be given to us on our floor. We can’t move out of the floor that’s been designated to us. The entire hotel is empty, but we can’t use any amenities in the hotel including the swimming pool and the gym. All the cafes and restaurants in the hotel are shut. But how is a team struggling with injuries expected to recover if basic amenities like pool and gym are not allowed? There’s no other guest in the hotel. It’s empty. Then why can’t the players use the amenities,” said an official travelling with the team citing anonymity, adding that the situation has been pathetic.
