In a concerning development ahead of the second Test match in England, members of the Indian cricket team were asked to remain indoors after a suspicious package was discovered at Centenary Square, located in the heart of Birmingham city.
The area is close to the team hotel where the players are currently staying. A source from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed to news agency PTI that the team was advised not to leave the premises temporarily due to safety concerns.
The alert was raised following a social media post by the Birmingham City Centre Police, which read:
“We’ve currently got a cordon in place around Centenary Square, Birmingham city centre, while we investigate a suspicious package.
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 was shared on X (formerly Twitter) and quickly drew attention from both locals and the international cricketing community.
While the security situation was being evaluated, Indian players were instructed to stay inside the hotel. Normally, players often walk around the nearby Broad Street, a bustling area filled with restaurants and shops.
Eight Indian players, including captain Shubman Gill, attended a training session at Edgbaston Stadium, while the remaining ten members were on a rest day.
However, roughly an hour after the alert was issued, Birmingham Police lifted the cordon.
