India-England series could also be shifted to UAE due to current coronavirus situation

India are due to host Test and limited-overs series against England later this year or in early 2021. However, due to a surge in Covid-19 positive cases in India, the world could is likely to witness UAE hosting the series between both the heavyweights.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced on Saturday that a memorandum of understanding had been signed between them and Emirates Cricket Board (ECB). The BCCI was also forced to shift the Indian Premier League to the Gulf nation as its feasibility was in jeopardy due to the current situation in India. At present, India has crossed over 5 million Covid-19 positive cases and the resumption of cricket in the country looks bleak.

In the wake of the rising coronavirus situation, the prospect of UAE staging India-England series has moved a step closer. Khalid Al Zarooni, the vice president of the ECB, and Mubashshir Usmani, its general secretary, met with Jay Shah and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly ahead of the commencement of IPL 2020.

BCCI hasn’t disclosed any details of the agreement yet

Both the boards are yet to disclose any details of their agreement, but it could mean the Emirates Cricket Board staging the India-England series.

“I along with vice-chairman of the ECB, Mr Khalid Al Zarooni, signed an MoU and hosting agreement between [the BCCI] and [ECB], to boost cricketing ties between our countries,” Shah wrote on social media.

Ganguly had also said in August that the Indian board is positive of playing the series against England. But the coronavirus situation curbs down the possibility of India hosting the series. The country currently has the second-highest number of reported Covid-19 cases in the world.

“The BCCI and the Indian cricket team will continue to fulfil its FTP commitments,” Ganguly said last month. The senior Indian men’s team will travel to Australia in December this year and will come back to the country for a series against England starting from February next year,” Ganguly had said.

As per the ICC’s future tours programme, India are due to host Test and limited-overs series against England between October 2020 and February 2021.