5 cricketers in isolation including Rohit: Spotted eating in Melbourne restaurant, allegations of breaking COVID-19 protocol being investigated

Shikha Chaurasia

Pune, January 02, 2021: Team India’s troubles may increase before the third Test match with Australia. Five players have been isolated after a video of them eating at an indoor restaurant in Melbourne surfaced. These five players are – Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Shubham Gill, Navdeep Saini and Prithvi Shaw. Cricket Australia (CA) has said that allegations of these players breaking the COVID-19 protocol are also being investigated.

The BCCI had earlier denied any investigation on its part in the matter. However, later in a statement issued by the CA, the matter is being jointly investigated after isolating the five players. CA said, “BCCI and CA are alert after the video surfaced on social media. In the video, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Shubham Gill, Prithvi Shaw and Navdeep Saini are seen eating at an indoor restaurant in Melbourne on the occasion of New Year.”

Players are now isolated under the COVID-19 protocol. According to the Biosecurity protocol, players are allowed to eat only by sitting in outdoor seating, so that social distancing remains. CA said, “BCCI and our joint investigation will decide whether the players have broken the protocol or not. The players have been isolated on the advice of the Indian and Australian medical teams.”

CA said, “According to the isolation protocol, the five players will be kept separate from the rest of the Indian and Australian players during training and travel. However, these players will be allowed to train following the protocols.”

What is the whole matter?
On Friday, a cricket fan named Nawaldeep Singh had seen his favourite Indian cricketers in a restaurant in Melbourne. He ordered food only to keep watching. After this, he also paid their bill of 118.69 Australian dollars (about 7000 rupees) without telling the players. Nawaldeep Singh also shared photos and videos of Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Shubham Gill, Prithvi Shaw and Navdeep Saini on his social media account.

Sydney Herald and The Age published news reports

Nawaldeep Singh, Rohit, Pant, Gill, Saini and Shaw were seen sitting inside the restaurant in Melbourne’s Secret Kitchen and Barbecue. According to reports published in The Age and Sydney Herald, the restaurant and its staff have confirmed the arrival of the Indian players to the Australian media.

Fan Nawaldeep apologized after the ruckus caused due to the players’ video. He said that Rishabh Pant did not hug him and he had said that due to excitement. Nawaldeep also said that the Indian team had eaten food within the purview of the COVID-19 protocol.