After a lot of uncertainties built on the fourth Test of the series, the touring Indian team has reached Brisbane where the fourth and the final Test of the series is scheduled to start on January 15. But it looks like they have been subjected to facilities unlike that offered to any sporting team across the world, let alone the Indian cricket team run by an all-powerful BCCI.
Reportedly, their concerns of living lives of animals locked up in zoos are coming true in Brisbane as they have been confined into a five-star hotel just four kilometres away from the Gabba stadium in the city. As per a TOI report, they have to prepare their own beds and clean their toilets in the hotel rooms as well as they are not allowed to use any of the amenities present in the hotel even while the entire hotel is empty.
“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 for 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,” TOI quoted an unnamed member of the contingent as quoting.
The members of the Indian touring party are not showing signs of being fed up at giving swab samples too many times and TOI quoted a member saying that they feel their nostrils have flared up due to repetitive testing. Not surprisingly, the team management has asked the BCCI to discuss the arrangement of all amenities for the touring members with Cricket Australia or arranging a flight back home.
“They’ve tested us some 15 to 20 times (swab tests) ever since we’ve arrived here (in November). So much so that the nostrils have flared up. Yesterday we were tested. Two days before that we were tested. A week ago, we were tested. It’s got to the point that it’s nauseating,” say those going through the procedure.
The Indian team has suffered many injuries on the tour of Australia and the Brisbane Test is the last match of the series that is level at 1-1. The tourists have a lot of injured players who can’t make it to the playing XI of the Brisbane Test and it seems that Ajinkya Rahane will have to accept playing the series decider with whatever team he will be left with, come January 12.
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