Indian cricket chief Sourav Ganguly has stoked the debate on the pressures of bio-secure bubble cricket by saying Indian players are better at handling mental health than foreign stars.
The former national team captain said that many England, Australia and West Indies cricketers "just give up on mental health."
The comments could cause controversy after many players, including India captain Virat Kohli, highlighted the struggles top players are facing in continually being restricted to staying within hotels and stadiums.
Kohli said last month that players were being "cooked" in bio-secure bubbles while England's policy of rotating and resting tour squad members has been criticised by pundits but defended by players.
Ganguly's comments come ahead the start of the Indian Premier League on Friday which will see international players spending up to eight weeks in a bio-secure environment for the world's richest Twenty20 tournament.
"I feel we Indians are a bit more tolerant than overseas (cricketers)", Ganguly told a promotional event late Tuesday, while acknowledging the pressures all players endure.
"I've played with a lot of Englishmen, Australians, West Indians, they just give up on mental health," he added.
"In the last six to seven months, with so much cricket going on in the bio-bubble, it's so tough.
"Just going from the hotel room to the ground... it's an absolutely different life."
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president noted that Australia had pulled out of a three-Test tour of South Africa in March citing an "unacceptable" coronavirus risk to players.
"Look at the Australian team, they were supposed to go to South Africa for a Test series after India played there. They refused to go there."
He added: "And always there's this scare of COVID. 'Hope it's not me the next time'. You have to stay positive, you have to train yourself mentally. All of us have to train ourselves mentally so that only good will happen. It boils down to training."
The IPL, to be held in six cities without spectators, will take place against the backdrop of a new surge in cases in India.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)