The senior Indian players were apprehensive to take part in the 5th Test, which was scheduled to get underway on September 10 in Manchester, amid the Covid-19 scare in the Indian camp. The 5th and final Test of the series stand canceled hours before the start of the opening day with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirming that India was unable to field a playing XI for the series finale.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that they will work along with the ECB to reschedule the fifth Test. In a statement regarding the same, BCCI said, “BCCI along with the ECB has jointly decided to call off the 5th Test Match scheduled at Manchester in ongoing India’s tour of England 2021. The BCCI and ECB held several rounds of discussion to find a way to play the Test Match, however, the outbreak of Covid-19 in the Indian team contingent forced the decision of calling off the Old Trafford Test Match.”
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They further added, “In lieu of the strong relationship between BCCI and ECB, the BCCI has offered to ECB a rescheduling of the canceled Test match. Both the Boards will work towards finding a window to reschedule this Test match. The BCCI has always maintained that the safety and well-being of the players is of paramount importance and there will be no comprised on that aspect. The BCCI would like to thank the ECB for their co-operation and understanding in these trying times. We would like to apologize to the fans for not being able to complete an enthralling series.”
Update: The BCCI and ECB held several rounds of discussion to find a way to play the match, however, the outbreak of Covid-19 in the Indian team contingent forced the decision of calling off the Old Trafford Test.
Details: https://t.co/5EiVOPPOBB
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 10, 2021
Earlier, ECB had said: “Following ongoing conversations with the BCCI, the ECB can confirm that the fifth LV= Insurance Test between England and India Men due to start today at Emirates Old Trafford, will be canceled. Due to fears of a further increase in the number of COVID cases inside the camp, India are regrettably unable to field a team.”
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Notably, India’s assistant physio Yogesh Parmar had tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday, forcing the visitors to cancel their training session. Having come into contact with Yogesh, the Indian players felt that the next 3-4 days, the incubation period continues and if during the incubation period, if somebody tests positive, the entire team will have to undergo isolation again.
