Australia’s cricket team is facing backlash after winning a Commonwealth Games gold medal against a player who tested positive for covid-19 hours before the match.
Star all-rounder Talia McGrath has tested positive for covid after experiencing “mild symptoms” but is still unable to play in Sunday’s gold medal match against India at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Isolated from his teammates, McGrath wore a protective mask as he waited to be hit, but removed his mask before entering the field and made two of four shots.
The 26-year-old was then caught when she bowled two overs and raised her hand to warn teammates not to celebrate with her.
Australia beat India by nine runs to become Commonwealth Games champions. McGrath was photographed with and without a mask at the celebration.
Australian bowler Megan Shute, who took two wickets, said afterward: “If you have Covid, so be it.”
The decision to exclude cricket from Covid has sparked controversy, not only because of potential health risks, but also because Australia is one of the strictest countries when it comes to Covid regulations.
Australia has taken a tough stance on lockdowns during the pandemic, with even tennis world number one Novak Djokovic having been deported due to his vaccination status.
Had the Commonwealth Games finals been held in Australia, McGrath would have been forced to withdraw and self-isolate for seven days.
However, McGrath was cleared to play in yesterday’s final with the full support of the International Cricket Council, the Australian Commonwealth Games Team and the Commonwealth Games Federation.
The UK government has now insisted the self-isolation rules are advisory only, saying the Birmingham tournament will allow athletes who have tested positive for COVID-19 to participate and that it will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
A statement from Commonwealth Games Australia said: “McGrath appeared to team management on Sunday with mild symptoms and has since tested positive.
He was named in the first XI and the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed his participation in the final.
“In consultation with the CGF and ICC, the CGA and Cricket Australia medical staff have developed a series of comprehensive protocols to be followed during and after a match to minimize the risk of contagion for all players and umpires.
“The CGA maintains a comprehensive Covid-19 risk mitigation strategy for the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, with testing protocols that exceed those required by the 2022 Birmingham Organizing Committee.”
However, the Indian cricket team was confused and somewhat concerned after McGrath was given clearance to play, especially after reports that he was not informed of the test results until the draw.
Many Indian sports pundits were outraged at the decision, with Bloomberg News reporter Akshat Rathi describing it as a “dereliction of duty”.
He tweeted: Dereliction of duty by the authorities.
Sports reporter Naveen Sharma said it was a “shameless” decision by Australia, adding on social media:
But Australia’s Beth Mooney defended her teammate, saying the “right decision” had been made.
“It’s really disappointing that elite sports are publicly embarrassed to have covid when probably 90% of the people in this room have covid right now.
“No one is going to try, nothing. It’s a shame he couldn’t celebrate with us, but at the same time I think it was the right decision to let him play. People are very upset about it.” .
Australia are the dominant force in women’s cricket, beating India at Edgbaston to add to their T20 World Cup and 50 Commonwealth Games wins.
Hosts England were medalless after losing to India in the semi-finals and New Zealand in the bronze medal match.
Veteran England bowler Catherine Brandt said: Sorry to disappoint you. I could not do it.
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Source: Metro
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