The Indian team is currently on an Australia tour. Controversy erupted after Indian players were accused of breaching Covid-19 related protocols. It all started after five Indians players, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Navdeep Saini, Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill, ate at a restaurant in Melbourne and its video went viral on social media. As per a report in smh.com.au, captain Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya also broke Covid protocols in early December 2020. Also, the duo went to eat at a restaurant in Adelaide and during this did not have their masks on.
The report suggests that the first incident took place in early December. Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya went shopping at a baby store. Both of them bought goods related to children there. Later, both of them also took photographs with the store staff. As per reports, both Kohli and Hardik did not have their masks on inside the store. As a result, both violated the protocols of bio-bubble security. Later, both Kohli and Hardik returned to India.
Safety protocols breached in Adelaide too
Similarly, when India and Australia had a Test match in Adelaide, some Indian players went to eat in 'Waffle and Coffee'. Here two Indians went to order inside. Both of them were not wearing masks at that time. Although everyone had eaten the food outside. Australian media reports claim that both these cases were not reported to Cricket Australia.
Both these cases have come to light after an investigation into the incident of five India players eating in a restaurant in Melbourne is being probed by Cricket Australia. In the restaurant where Indian players ate food, an Indian fan present there paid their food bill. This fan had also said that Pant had hugged him. After this, CA is probing the matter.
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, cricket is happening inside the bio-secure bubble right now. Under this, the players have to stay in the hotel. They cannot meet any outsider. It is also necessary for them to wear a mask while going out. The players of the touring team also have to stay in the quarantine for two weeks. The player can also be ruled out of the tour if any of these protocols is broken.