Five Indian cricket players isolated and investigated for potential bubble breach after restaurant visit
Five star Indian cricketers are being isolated and investigated for a potential COVID-19 bubble breach after a fan's generous act went viral on Twitter.
Navaldeep Singh shared a video and photos of Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Navdeep Saini and Prithvi Shaw eating at a Melbourne restaurant in what appeared to break the strict biosecurity protocols set by Cricket Australia.
Players are not allowed to dine inside at restaurants.
Singh claimed that he paid the $118.69 bill for the players and that wicketkeeper Pant had hugged him.
CA released a statement on Saturday night, saying that both it and the Board of Control for Cricket in India are seeking to determine whether the outing constitutes a breach of biosecurity protocols.
"In the interim, on the advice of the Australian and Indian medical teams, the aforementioned players have been placed in isolation as a precaution," the statement said.
"This will include separating the group of players from the broader Indian and Australian squads when traveling and at the training venue.
"Players will be permitted to train in accordance with the strict protocols that have been put in place to ensure the ongoing safety of all members of the Indian and Australian squads.
"Similar measures were taken during the BBL this season after it was determined two Brisbane Heat players (Chris Lynn and Dan Lawrence) failed to comply with tournament biosecurity protocols."
The Sydney Morning Herald reported the Indian board were investigating the incident at Secret Kitchen, a noodles and BBQ restaurant at Chadstone Shopping Centre.
Staff at the restaurant confirmed to the Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday the group visited on New Year's Day and dined inside.
India won the second Test against Australia in Melbourne and are now preparing for the third fixture, starting on January 7 in Sydney.
Pant and Gill played at the MCG while the big hitting Sharma was expected to come into the Test XI for Sydney after proving his fitness.
The decision to forge ahead with the SCG Test and allow crowds has been a source of hot debate as the city grapples with an outbreak of coronavirus.
New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian insists the SCG Sydney Cricket Ground can still host a crowd of 50 per cent at the New Year's Test capacity despite her latest announcement suggesting that's impossible.
Ms Berejiklian today announced outdoor gatherings would be capped at 2000 people from midnight tonight in a move to combat the surge of COVID-19 in NSW, which has today resulted in seven new cases.
Ms Berejiklian said she would revisit her stance on capacity after a safety review of the venue.
But despite the growing concern surrounding the virus, she said at this stage as many as 24,000 people would be let through the gates.
"Our health officials, police and event organisers will be doing a walk-through to go over the… COVID-safe plan," Ms Berejiklian said.
"This is an example where the NSW government strategy is to keep jobs, to keep community morale and wellbeing, while making sure we are COVID-safe.
"There are very stringent guidelines in place about making sure people stay within the zones they are required to stay in.
"It will be a very controlled and ticketed event, and the fact that people have to wear a mask when going to or from the event, public transport or otherwise, will also mitigate the risk."
