LONDON: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) “Very Confident” tour of the year at the end of the year will continue as planned even though negotiations continue restrictions on travel and quarantine in Australia.
England will play the Twenty20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in October-November before heading to Australia and players who appear in both tend to spend four months from home.
British players seek guarantees of their family members will be allowed to join them in Australia and the ECB are currently in talks with Australian Cricket to secure that part.
“All the right conversations occur at the government level in Australia and we will use our own diplomatic channels in the UK to ensure that the views of the players and the ECB (audible),” said ECB executive Chief Tom Harrison to England on Thursday.
“This is a conversation that will happen for the next few weeks but I am very sure we will get to the place where we can fulfill our obligations for the tour.” Australia has closed its borders in efforts to control Covid-19, with flights and limited places in a minor-managed isolation of 14 days to return citizens and other exceptions.
Media reports claim that some English players might pull out of the series if their families are not permitted to join them, and the ECB sympathize with that request.
“This is not a player who asks for anything that doesn’t make sense – this is a very reasonable request that we ask the Australian government to give punishment, frankly,” Harrison said.
“It will be important for us to ensure that we can provide comfort for the players that their families will be able to be in Australia and that these conditions where they are quarantined will make sense, allowing the players to the best in the test series.” England Scheduled to play five tests in Australia between December 8 and January 18.