The five Indian players -- Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant,Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw and Navdeep Saini -- who are at the centre of analleged breach of Cricket Australia's bio-security protocols, are expected toplay in the third Test beginning Thursday at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG)despite an ongoing investigation by the BCCI.
The five players, who were put in isolation after boththe Australian and Indian cricket boards launched an investigation into a videoshowing them sitting indoors in a restaurant in Melbourne on Friday, have beenasked to train separately from the rest of the squad and it could be possiblethat they will travel on Monday separately from the squad.
According to a Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) report, theBoard of Control for Cricket in India is expected to take a "pragmaticapproach" should it find the quintet had breached the bio-securityprotocols. Cricket Australia cannot sanction the said players even if theirrules are found to have been broken as the quintet are not their employees, theSMH report further stated.
The Indian side on Sunday boarded two buses to theMelbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for a gym session after their practice sessionwas cancelled due to rain.
Gill boarded a team bus to return to the hotel withseveral other members of the touring party after training but a spokesman forthe Indian side said social distancing requirements were met, the reportclaimed.
According to the publication, Friday's incident was notthe first time that Indian players seemingly breached the bio-secure protocols.
India captain Virat Kohli and limited-overs all-rounderHardik Pandya were also pictured at a shop in Sydney in early December duringthe white-ball leg of the tour.
There have been reports emerging about Team India'sreluctance to play the fourth and final Test of the ongoing series in Brisbanedue to harsher bio-security protocols in Queensland.
However, members of the Queensland government have statedthat the Indian team should not enter the state if they are unwilling tocoordinate with the protocols that have been laid out.
The ongoing four-match series is currently tied at 1-1with Australia winning the first Test in Adelaide while India registering a winin the second in Melbourne.