Team India’s preparations for the second Test against England at Edgbaston hit an unexpected snag on Tuesday when a potential security threat emerged near their team hotel. A suspicious package was found in Birmingham’s Centenary Square just a short distance from where the players are staying prompting immediate action from local authorities.
Acting quickly, Birmingham police cordoned off the area and urged everyone nearby, including the Indian cricket team, to remain indoors as a precautionary measure.
Police Response and Team Safety
The Birmingham City Centre Police took to social media around 3 PM local time to inform the public: “We’ve currently got a cordon in place around Centenary Square, Birmingham city centre, while we investigate a suspicious package… A number of buildings have been evacuated as a precaution.”
Following this alert, the BCCI responded promptly. Players and staff were advised not to leave the hotel until further notice, with safety being the top priority. A BCCI official confirmed the move, saying it was based on police advisories.
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Training Goes Ahead – But Partially
The incident did cause a minor disruption to the team’s training routine. Eight players, including captain Shubman Gill, still made it to Edgbaston for practice. The rest of the squad, who were scheduled for a rest day anyway, stayed back at the hotel as an added safety measure.
Usually, players take time to unwind around nearby Broad Street, but on this particular afternoon, team management made it clear no one was to step out until the all-clear was given.
Situation Resolved Swiftly
Fortunately, the situation was resolved quickly. Within about an hour of the alert, Birmingham Police lifted the security cordon and confirmed that the area was safe. The Indian team was then able to resume normal activities, with no further issues reported.
While the brief scare did rattle the routine a bit, the prompt response from both local authorities and team management ensured everyone’s safety and the focus now firmly returns to cricket at Edgbaston.
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