India to be quarantined in Australia?
India's cricket team is prepared to undergo quarantine to salvage a money-spinning Test series against Australia, a top official said Friday, but there was less optimism about this year's Twenty20 World Cup taking place Down Under.
Virat Kohli's men are scheduled to contest a four Test series in Australia towards the end of the year but will need to isolate for two weeks under current COVID-19 rules.
Board of Control for Cricket in India treasurer Arun Dhumal said the Test team were willing to make that sacrifice to save the series, which cash-strapped Cricket Australia desperately needs to replenish its coffers.
"There is no choice -- everyone will have to do that. You would want to resume the cricket," Dhumal told Fairfax newspapers. "Two weeks is not that long a lockdown."
Australia this month dethroned India as the world's top-ranked Test team, setting up the series as a blockbuster rivalry.
The series would also generate hundreds of millions of dollars for a host organisation struggling during the coronavirus shutdown.
Revenue from the series is so important to Cricket Australia that it has proposed adding a fifth Test, which would mean ditching a one-off Test against Afghanistan in November.
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