Indian Team Told to Stay Indoors After Suspicious Package Scare In Birmingham
The Indian cricket team in Birmingham was advised to stay indoors after a suspicious package was found. Police evacuated buildings and set up a cordon, lifted an hour later.
The Indian cricket team, based in central Birmingham, was advised to stay indoors after a suspicious package was discovered at the nearby Centenary Square.
A BCCI source confirmed to PTI that players were instructed not to venture out following a social media alert from the Birmingham City Centre Police.
Typically, Indian cricketers explore areas close to their hotel, and ahead of the second Test, they were often seen on the bustling Broad Street.
Eight players, including captain Shubman Gill, attended training at Edgbaston, while the remaining ten members had the day off.
'We've currently got a cordon in place around Centenary Square, Birmingham city centre, while we investigate a suspicious package," read a post from Birmingham City Centre Police on X.
'We were alerted just before 3pm, and a number of buildings have been evacuated as a precaution while it's assessed. Please avoid the area," the message read.
However, an hour later, the police lifted the cordon.
Who Plays In 2nd Test?
India captain Shubman Gill remains confident that his team can secure a series-levelling win against England, even if Jasprit Bumrah, the world's top-ranked Test bowler, is not included in the squad for the match at Edgbaston.
India trail 1-0 with four games remaining, following their five-wicket defeat in the first Test at Headingley last week.
The exceptional fast bowler Bumrah claimed 5-83 in the first innings but failed to take a wicket in the second innings as England successfully chased a target of 371.
The 31-year-old Bumrah is recovering from a back injury, and India had previously stated that he was expected to play in just three matches of the series.
The third Test at Lord's is set to begin only four days after the scheduled conclusion of the game in Birmingham.
'Bumrah is definitely available, we just want to see how to manage his workload," Gill told a pre-match press conference at Edgbaston on Tuesday.
'You definitely do miss your best bowler if he's not playing, but I think we knew prior to the series he would only play three Tests… We had plans for who would be playing if he was not playing. We will take that call this (Tuesday) evening."
(With inputs from Agencies)
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