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'Unlike before, the players cannot just go out in the evenings after a long day in the field. This is where it is very important that the families are there to help the players switch off after play and not feel the heat. The BCCI has always had the interest of the players in mind and this time too the board stood like a rock to help get the necessary clearance from the UK government with assistance from the ECB.'
With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) getting the clearance from the UK government for the families of the players and support staff to accompany them for the 3-month long England tour, the Indian contingent is pleased as punch.
While the families were already in quarantine with the players in Mumbai, the visas hadn't been approved and the BCCI was working 24x7 to get the clearance from the UK government with assistance from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
Speaking to ANI, sources in the team management said it was really thoughtful of the BCCI to go that extra mile to get permission for the families to accompany the players and support staff on such a long tour in the current COVID-19 scenario.
"We sometimes tend to take things for granted, but the team is not just happy, but also thankful to the BCCI for working overtime so that the families could travel with the contingent. As we are all aware, these are difficult times and keeping an eye on the protocol, it is important that the mental health of everyone involved on such a long tour is also taken care of.
"Unlike before, the players cannot just go out in the evenings after a long day in the field. This is where it is very important that the families are there to help the players switch off after play and not feel the heat. The BCCI has always had the interest of the players in mind and this time too the board stood like a rock to help get the necessary clearance from the UK government with assistance from the ECB," the source said.
"Yes, it's good news that players will have their families during the tour of UK. Ditto for the women's team who can also have their families around. These are times when mental well-being of players is paramount.
"The BCCI understands that we need our players and support staff to be in a good head space," one source told PTI.
However, he also informed that Ganguly and Shah, who were originally supposed to be in England for the WTC final won't be going there for the time being.
"As far as I know, the ECB didn't grant permission to them (Ganguly and Shah). Normally, administrators go before the Test match but as per quarantine rules, since they are not playing members, they would have had to undergo hard quarantine of 10 days.
"The team rules wouldn't have been applicable as far as president and secretary is concerned," the official further added.
The Indian men's and women's teams will be leaving for Southampton after their London touchdown.
While women play their one-off Test in Bristol from June 16-19, they will also do their hard quarantine in Southampton along with the men's contingent at Hotel Hilton which is a part of the Hampshire Bowl property.
The women are supposed to travel to Bristol on completion of their hard quarantine in Southampton.
Both Indian teams have served a 14-day quarantine period (home plus hotel) in India and undergone six RT-PCR negative tests which allow them to board the charter flight to London on Wednesday.
It is expected that they will have three days of hard quarantine (room) and then they can use the gymnasium as well as start their skills (net) training.
The 24-member men's team is supposed to play an intra-squad three-day practice game to get into the groove.