ENG vs IND: BCCI and ECB to work towards finding a window to reschedule the cancelled Test

After a lot of discussions, BCCI and ECB have mutually decided to cancel the fifth and final Test at Old Trafford in Manchester due to the COVID scare in the Indian camp. It all started with Ravi Shastri testing positive before the start of the fourth Test and later two other support staff members tested positive for the virus.

Just before the start of the fifth Test, India’s junior physio contracted the virus but later revealed that he tested negative in the second round of testing. However, multiple Indian players were reluctant to take the field as they were the close contacts of the junior physio. With the Test match cancelled, BCCI has offered ECB to reschedule the game.

Both the boards will look to find a proper window in order to reschedule the cancelled Test. It is important to note that India is scheduled to tour England for three ODIs and three T20Is in July 2022. BCCI and ECB will have to chance to reschedule the called off Test in this particular window.

Here’s BCCI’s complete statement:

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) along with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have 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.

In lieu of the strong relationship between BCCI and ECB, the BCCI has offered to ECB a rescheduling of the cancelled 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 compromise 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 apologise to the fans for not being able to complete an enthralling series.