The fifth and final Test match between England and India was cancelled due to COVID scare in the Indian camp. The Indian players became reluctant to play out the fifth test after Ravi Shastri, Bharat Arun and the two Indian physios tested positive. Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer, VVS Laxman has shared his thoughts on the fate of the Test series.
In his column for Times of India, VVS Laxman has said that the way the series ended was disappointing, however, the IPL should not be blamed for the same and there should be no blame game at all.
“It was an abrupt, somewhat disappointing end to what had been a cracking series but given the circumstances in which the final Test at Old Trafford was cancelled, it’s unfair to point fingers or play the blame game. More than a year and a half since the pandemic, the world is still far from a safe place. It might be tempting for many to see the Indian team as the villain of the piece, but I can say from our IPL experiences this summer that once any member of the team that you have been in close contact with tests positive, it is impossible not to be apprehensive, indeed fearful” said Laxman.
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
To Take The Field In That Mental State Is Difficult: VVS Laxman
Adding further in his column, Laxman said that it was difficult for the Indian players to play the Test match with suck mental state and in the end, the right call was made. He further said that he hopes that ICC awards the series to India since they are ahead by 2-1.
“To take the field in that mental state is far from ideal. So is the potential risk of endangering others on the park, be it your teammates, the officials or the opponents. Against that backdrop, I think the cancelation of the Test was the right call, though I feel deeply for the fans who had invested so much time, money and emotion in the contest. I hope the ICC sees the situation for what it is and awards the series 2-1 to India, particularly with the BCCI having offered to play a Test during their white ball tour of England next year.”
India will be touring England for three ODIs and three T20Is in July 2022.
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