Shastri, fielding coach R Sridhar, bowling coach Bharat Arun and physio Nitin Patel were found infected during the Oval Test and the game was controversially called off when junior physio Yogesh Parmar tested positive ahead of the fifth Test in Manchester. It was because India was leading the series. 2-1.
There were reports of people not wearing masks in the program.
Shastri said in an interview to ‘The Guardian’, “I have absolutely no regrets because the people I met at that ceremony were wonderful. And instead of being constantly in their rooms for the boys to go out and separate- It was nice to meet different people.” .
“At the Oval Test, you were climbing the stairs used by 5,000 people. So to point a finger at the release of a book?” He asked.
“… but I wasn’t worried because incubation probably takes weeks. There were about 250 people there and no one from that party got COVID.”
Talking about his time in isolation, Shastri said: “It was funny because in my 10 days, I didn’t have a single symptom other than a sore throat. I never had a temperature and my oxygen level was 99 all the time. The percentage was
“I didn’t take any drugs, not a single paracetamol, during the 10 days of my isolation. I tell people: ‘Once you get a double jab, it’s a bloody 10-day flu. That’s it.’ ”
After the cancellation of the fifth Test, the release of the book gained even more attention as the result of the series is yet to be decided.
Asked whether he was made a scapegoat after the Test was cancelled, Shastri said the truth was something else.
“I didn’t get it at my book launch because it was on 31st (August) and I tested positive on 3rd September. It can’t happen in three days. I think I got it in Leeds. England opened on 19 July and all of a sudden Back to hotel, lifts back. No restrictions.”
Shastri said that he was not involved in the decision not to play the Manchester Test while in isolation in London. He didn’t even talk to the players about it.
“No. I didn’t know who got it. I didn’t know (the junior physio) got it suddenly and tested positive. He physically treated five or six players. I think that’s the issue.” That’s where it started. We knew that the incubation period meant that one could get it in the middle (of the test).
“A lot of players’ families were there. So it became a situation where you don’t know what that player is thinking. He has a little kid, you know, he has to think about them. It was a little bit , I will say, poignant.”
Shastri is also confident that the BCCI and ECB will resolve the series outcome amicably.
“ECB has been excellent and their relationship with India” Cricket Tremendous. People are talking about money but I can guarantee that ECB will pay the full amount with interest.
“I don’t know if it’s a stand-alone Test next year or they give them two extra T20 games, but the ECB won’t lose a penny because of the relationship that exists. It was in 2008 when we (terrorists) blasted England in Mumbai. Came back and played the Test. We didn’t forget that.’
Bilateral T20 should be reduced, take a look at football:
Shastri also feels strongly that bilateral T20 series should be reduced to ease the relentless international calendar.
“I want to see less and less bilateral T20 cricket. Look at football. You have the Premier League, the Spanish League, the Italian League, the German League. They all come together (for the Champions League). Some are bilateral football ( friendly) now.
“National teams play only for World Cup or World Cup qualifying (and other major tournaments such as the European Championships, Copa America and Africa Cup of Nations).”
he said captain Virat Kohli And other players from India also share their views on the subject.
“They all believe the same. There’s enough franchise cricket. That’s working. But what’s the point of bilaterals? In my seven years with this Indian team, I don’t remember a single white ball game. If you look at the World Cup You win the final you will remember this and that is the only thing left for me as a coach.
“I don’t remember a single (white ball) game. Test matches? I remember every ball. Everything. But the quantity is huge. We beat Australia 3-0 in the T20 series. We beat New Zealand 5-0 in New Zealand. Who cares? But beating Australia in two Test series in Australia? Winning the Test in England? I remember that.”
Cricket boards prefer to stage white ball games as it generates more revenue but Shastri feels the right balance can be maintained.
“Money is important because it can be invested at the grassroots level. Top players still want to play Test match cricket, but except England and Australia, very few countries make money through it.
“It’s getting started in India because of the way India play. We go for wins because Test cricket is final,” Shastri said.
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