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SPORTS SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 | The Indian Eye 42

india in enGland SerieS

covid scare in cricket: after 5th test

cancellation, IPl games under threat

BCCI offers to England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) a rescheduling of the cancelled 5th

Test match at Manchester from Friday

Our Bureau

Kennington Oval

he fifth and final Test between India
and England has been cancelled due
Tto a “further increase in the number of
COVID cases” inside the Indian camp. “Fol-
lowing ongoing conversations with the BCCI,
the ECB can confirm that the fifth LV= In-
surance Test between England and India
Men due to start today at Emirates Old Traf-
ford, will be cancelled,” ECB said in a state-
ment. “Due to fears of a further increase in
the number of COVID cases inside the camp,
India are regrettably unable to field a team.
“We send our sincere apologies to fans
and partners for this news, which we know
will cause immense disappointment and in-
convenience to many,” the statement added.
Ahead of the fifth and final Test against
England, physio Yogesh Parmar tested pos-
itive for COVID-19 in Manchester. This Indian skipper Virat Kohli during a training session ahead of 5th Test match between England and
had led to Team India’s training session for India, at Old Trafford in Mancheaster on Wednesday. (ANI)
Thursday afternoon being cancelled. How-
ever, there were no COVID-19 related Shastri’s lateral flow test returned positive released by the BCCI read.
worries in the England camp and Jos But- on Saturday evening. “The BCCI has always maintained that the
tler had said everything is fine and the hosts The remaining members of the Team safety and well-being of the players is of para-
were looking forward to the game. India contingent had undergone two Later- mount importance and there will be no com-
“We don’t know too much about it at the al Flow Tests -- one on Saturday night and promise on that aspect,” the statement added.
moment. It would be naive to speculate on another on Sunday morning. The members The Board of Control for Cricket in In-
what’s going on. At the moment we’re fully upon returning negative COVID reports dia (BCCI) Vice President Rajeev Shukla
expecting the game to go ahead and we’re were allowed to proceed for Day 4 of the on Friday said negotiations with England
preparing that way so fingers crossed the fourth Test at The Oval against England. and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are under-
game will go ahead. Things are fine in our On Friday, the Board of Control for way to resolve the issues “amicably” follow-
camp and we are looking forward to the Cricket in India (BCCI) offered to England ing the cancellation of the Manchester Test.
game,” said Buttler in a virtual press confer- and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) a resched- When asked whether the match will be
ence on Thursday. uling of the cancelled 5th Test match which played at a later date, Shukla said: “Those
This came after India head coach Ravi was scheduled to be played at Manchester negotiations are taking place.”
Shastri, bowling coach Bharat Arun and from Friday. Meanwhile, following the cancellation of
fielding coach R Sridhar returned positive The BCCI and ECB held several rounds the Manchester Test between England and In-
results to their RT-PCR tests during the of discussion to find a way to play the Test dia on Friday, former England skipper Kevin
fourth Test. They are currently undergoing match, however, the outbreak of COVID-19 Pietersen has asked whether the players will
isolation and can come out only after return- in the Indian team contingent forced the de- be available for the opening match when IPL
ing two negative results. cision of calling off the game. “In lieu of the 2021 resumes in the UAE on September 19.
On Sunday, just half an hour before the strong relationship between BCCI and ECB, “So, England v India TEST is CAN-
start of play on Day 4 of the fourth Test, the the BCCI has offered to ECB a reschedul- CELLED due to Covid!!!! WOW!!!! Wow!!!
BCCI said its medical team had isolated ing of the cancelled Test match. Both the Wow!!! Does it mean with 9 days till CSK
Shastri, Bharat Arun, Sridhar, and physio Boards will work towards finding a window v MI in Dubai, NO player from each team
Nitin Patel as a precautionary measure after to reschedule this Test match,” a statement Continued on next page... >>

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