Indian players weren't wearing mask at book launch event: Dilip Doshi

The Test match series between England and India was an eventful affair with the last Test deciding the outcome of the series. However, the fifth Test match was cancelled after Covid-19 entered the Indian camp. Ahead of the fourth Test, the Indian team had attended the book launch of head coach Ravi Shastri. Later, Shastri was blamed for the series of events that led to the cancellation of the final Test. Now, former cricketer, Dilip Doshi has come forward to open up on the event.

The BCCI had stated that the Indian team did not take permission from the board to attend the book launch. Dilip Doshi who was also a part of the event revealed certain details of the event. He asserted that the Indian team was present at the launch for a short while but it surprised him when he noticed that none of the players were wearing masks.

“I was present at the book launch. I was actually invited by the Taj group. A lot of dignitaries, and Team India players were present there, for a short while, and I was shocked to see that none of them was wearing a mask,” Dilip Doshi was quoted as saying by India Ahead.

The former cricketer also added that the decision of making it mandatory to wear the mask is that of the politicians. But further asserted that he would expect the Indian team to take the necessary precautions when they are in public.

Indian cricket board did not want the last Test?

The Virat Kohli-led side was at the cusp of creating history in the Manchester Test. However, Shastri, bowling Coach Bharat Arun, fielding coach R Sridhar and physiotherapist Nitin Patel tested Covid-19 positive ahead of the Oval Test. Shastri was criticized as his book launch was considered as the reason for his Covid infection. Dilip Doshi further hinted that IPL could also be the probable reason for the final Test to be called off.

“I was speaking to a dear friend of mine Michael Holding earlier today and he mentioned to me that the Indian Cricket board did not want the last Test. So, their original suggestion was that the tour should end after the Oval Test, leaving enough time between IPL and the last Test in England. Giving a gap of 15 days because of the quarantine period in between, but I believe ECB did not want that and they may have insisted on the fifth Test,” Doshi added.