The cancellation of the fifth Test between India and England in Manchester is expected to cost the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) roughly INR 200 crore (£20 million). The match was called off on the day of the match, Friday, since India was “unable to form a team” because to a covid-19 epidemic among its group.
However, the outcome of the match and, by extension, the series, which India leads 2-1 after four Tests, is still unknown.
Some Indian players were concerned about the covid-19 cases in their contingent, according to reports. On Wednesday, India’s assistant physio Yogesh Parmar returned a positive Covid-19 test; the players’ training on Thursday was cancelled, and they were instructed to stay in their hotel rooms.
While the players’ test results on Thursday were negative, they conveyed their concerns about taking the field to the BCCI, which forwarded it to the ECB, and the game was subsequently called off.
According to a report in the Telegraph UK, if the players didn’t have to report to the UAE for the IPL Season 14, the fifth Test would have been rescheduled (with a one or two day delay) rather than cancelled.
The Indian players are expected to fly to the United Arab Emirates on September 15 for the event, which begins on September 19.
A similar covid-19 outbreak in the Indian camp in Sri Lanka pushed a T20I match back a day, but it wasn’t considered an option for the Manchester Test, according to the article.
“Like what happened in Sri Lanka – the tour gets a bit pushed. Now, they just don’t have the window,” a source told Telegraph Sport.
The BCCI Vice President, Rajeev Shukla, announced that India had not forfeited the Manchester Test.
If Virat Kohli’s team had forfeited, the hosts would have been awarded a win, and the series would have ended at 2-2. Shukla, on the other hand, stated that the match was just called off and that the Indian team had not conceded.
“After wide consultations between BCCI President, BCCI Secretary, Treasurer, me and Joint Secretary, along with ECB Chairman and CEO and in consultations with players, captain, senior players it was decided to call off this Test match which was slated in Manchester,” Rajeev Shukla told ANI.
“And other things you know, other negotiations with ECB will continue in order to resolve the whole issue amicably. There is no question of forfeiting the match, it has been only called off,” he added.
After testing positive for the virus ahead of the fourth Test, head coach Ravi Shastri, bowling coach Bharat Arun, and fielding coach R Sridhar are being held in isolation in London.
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