NEW DELHI: India captain Virat Kohli is likely to travel to Australia later this year despite his wife expecting their first child in January, a key Indian cricket board (BCCI) official told Reuters on Friday.

Kohli’s social media post announcing his wife’s pregnancy went viral on Thursday, drawing good wishes from several India team-mates.

Media reports Down Under said Cricket Australia (CA) and its broadcasters would be “holding their breath” over the availability of one of the biggest drawcards of world cricket.

“He’s available for the tour, at least he has not said anything to the contrary,” said the official, who asked to remain anonymous. “Now, if he has to come back in the middle of the tour, he has not said anything about that either. Of course there’s plenty of time before the series.”

Beginning on December 3 in Brisbane, India will play four Tests in Australia, sandwiched between three Twenty20 Internationals and an equal number of one-dayers.

The series against India is reportedly worth 300 million Australian dollars ($220 million) to CA, which has already lost this year’s Twenty20 World Cup to the COVID-19 pandemic and will now host the tournament in 2022. CA is also under pressure from the broadcasters with the boss of Australia’s Channel Seven threatening to terminate their contract over the board’s handling of the summer schedule.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2020

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...