England’s upcoming limited-overs tour to India has now been postponed due to increasing cases of the coronavirus, cricket chiefs announced on Friday. The Brits were scheduled to visit India for three ODIs and as many T20Is, originally due to start in late September, would have been ideal preparation for the T20 World Cup in Australia later in the year. But that tournament has now been postponed as India is struggling to controls the outbreak of COVID-19.
Officials from England and India have been planning to organize an all-formats England tour to India from late January to late March and India’s Test tour to England due later in 2021. England is currently scheduled to play five-match Test series Tests in India from January to March next year.
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Explaining the same, ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) chief executive Tom Harrison said, “International cricket between India and England is a highlight of the cricketing calendar and we look forward to working with the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) to firm up the schedules for these eagerly anticipated tours as soon as possible.”
On the other hand, BCCI secretary Jay Shah said: “I am pleased with the way BCCI and ECB have managed the situation. The rescheduled tour is also being redesigned in a way to accommodate both red and white-ball formats.”
If health conditions fail to improve, the fixtures could be staged in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which will stage the lucrative Twenty20 Indian Premier League (IPL) from September. The only major international cricket being staged anywhere in the world as currently, England is hosting Pakistan for a three-match Test series.
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It follows a Test series against West Indies and a three-match ODI series against Ireland. All of the matches are taking place behind closed doors, with strict anti-virus protocols in place.
