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“It’ll be worked out above us, and then they’ll have a choice whether you get on that plane or you don’t. But there’ll be a squad of England players coming here. I don’t care who comes. I really don’t. I hope their best team comes. No one is forcing you to come. No one is forcing any England player to come. That’s the beauty of the world we live in - you have a choice.”

Paine, who is still recovering from neck surgery, explained that Tasmania’s decision to fly home to Hobart on Tuesday, which angered Queensland, was based on the possibility that if the match in Brisbane was affected by the minor COVID-19 outbreak in the state, their subsequent fixture against Western Australia in Perth would also be impacted.

“The original plan was Tassie would fly home, but if the cases didn’t grow they would fly back and play the one-dayer against Queensland on Sunday and then the Shield game on Tuesday,” he said.

“Cases grew, so that game has now been moved to Adelaide, and now Tasmania haven’t been in Brisbane, they can continue on to round two in Perth.

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“Had they stayed, we would’ve played one day, the game would’ve been called off, Tasmania would’ve had to fly home then, and would not have been able to play in round two either.”

After their game against Tasmania, Queensland will stay in Adelaide to play Shield and one day games against SA.

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