Sourav Ganguly, the BCCI president, has defended Rishabh Pant and said one cannot wear a mask all the time as the wicketkeeper tested positive for the coronavirus in the UK.
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Rishabh Pant tested positive for the coronavirus in the UK about a week back. That the BCCI chose to release a statement eight days later only spoke about the need for secrecy for the Indian cricket board. Pant was spotted at the Wembley Stadium during the Euro 2020 championships. He was not wearing a mask and there was no social distancing. The rules in the United Kingdom have eased off with no bio-bubbles enforced.
Apart from Pant, assistant trainer Dayanand Girani has also tested positive. Along with him, players like Abhimanyu Easwaran, Wriddhiman Saha and bowling coach Bharat Arun have been deemed close contacts and are in isolation. Although Pant will play the warm-up game in Durham after presenting a negative PCR Test, there has been some criticism over the lack of discipline shown by Pant.
However, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has defended Pant and said the rules in the United Kingdom.
Speaking to News18, Ganguly said, “We have seen Euro Championship and Wimbledon in England. Rules have changed (with crowd being allowed inside venues). They were on leave and it’s physically impossible to wear mask all the time.”
Ganguly was also asked about the potential replacement of Shubman Gill but the former India skipper decided not to answer that, stating the team management will look into it. After the end of the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand, the Indian cricket team was on a break. Pant was in Wembley for the England vs Germany playoff game. India head coach Ravi Shastri attended Wimbledon.
All of them shared photos on their social media handles. In the United Kingdom, there are no restrictions. Masks are not being enforced and neither there is social distancing. But, at the same time, there is a massive surge in coronavirus cases. In the last 24 hours, the United Kingdom has seen close to 50,000 cases.
The Indian team has arrived in Durham for a three-day County game. They will also play an intra-squad game ahead of the first Test in Trent Bridge. Ahead of the Tests, India has some selection issues. The opening slot might be left vacant with the potential absence of Shubman Gill.
In case Gill is not fit for the Test series, either KL Rahul or Abhimanyu Easwaran might open with Rohit Sharma. There is speculation that even Mayank Agarwal or Hanuma Vihari might open with Rohit. R Ashwin is currently on a County stint with Surrey and he picked up six wickets to showcase his class against Somerset.
The Indian pace attack might need to be fine-tuned ahead of the Test in Trent Bridge. Jasprit Bumrah lacked rhythm in the ICC World Test Championship. Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami impressed and they might be automatic starters. The only spinner that they may play in the five Tests might be Ashwin. Mohammed Siraj, who was deemed unlucky to have missed out on the World Test Championship, could play a vital role in the five Tests.
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