In yet another big update coming in ahead of India's upcoming cricket assignments, it has now been confirmed that that families of both the men's and women's teams as well as the coaching and support staff have been cleared by the government of the United Kingdom to accompany the players on tour. Notably, the men's team is set to remain in England for months, playing the World Test Championship final from June 18-22, followed by the five Tests against England commencing August 4. The women's side are also set to play one-off Test, which will be followed by three ODIs and as many T20Is.
It is being learned that the families will also board the charter flight that will fly both the squads and is set to land in London on June 3. From there, the teams will move to Southampton, where they will serve the mandatory quarantine period, the duration of which is still being worked out between the BCCI and the local authorities. Moreover, while the women's side will proceed to Bristol, the venue for their one-off Test against England, the men's team will train at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.
Regular tests will be conducted during the period of isolation in UK: ICC
"As per the bio-safety protocols established for the event, in line with UK government and Public Health England requirements, the Indian Men's team will arrive in the UK on 3 June 2021 via a charter flight and carrying evidence of a negative PCR Test," the ICC was quoted as saying in a media release dated May 29.
"Prior to travelling, the party will have spent 14 days in a bio-secure environment in India during which regular testing will have taken place. Upon landing, they will proceed directly to the on-site hotel at the Hampshire Bowl where they will be tested again before commencing a period of managed isolation," the release added.
"Regular tests will be conducted during the period of isolation. Players' activity will be allowed in a gradually increasing manner after each round of negative testing, moving from exercise in isolation to small group and then larger squad activity, whilst always remaining within the bio-secure venue," the release mentioned further.
Currently, both the UK-bound teams are in Mumbai in the same hotel, where a part of the contingent has been in quarantine for two weeks, while the other who are residents of Mumbai joined last week and are currently isolating before they join the remainder of the squad on June 2.