The start of the fifth and the final Test between India and England at the Old Trafford in Manchester, scheduled to commence on September 10 has been cancelled. A few Indian players have told the BCCI that they are not comfortable playing the Test in Manchester.
As per reports, Indian players wrote a letter to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expressing apprehension over playing the Test at Old Trafford. After a lot of discussions, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) issued a statement stating that the Test match stands cancelled.
“Due to fears of a further increase in the number of COVID cases inside the camp, India are regrettably unable to field a team.” reads ECB statement.
Following ongoing conversations with the BCCI, the ECB can confirm that the fifth LV= Insurance Test at Emirates Old Trafford, due to start today, will be cancelled.
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 10, 2021
On Wednesday evening, team India’s assistant physio Yogesh Parmar had tested positive for Covid-19. As a result, Virat Kohli & Co suspended their training on Thursday. However, in a good development, a report in ESPNCricinfo stated that all cricketers have returned negative.
The Indian players have also undergone another round of tests for COVID-19, the results of which are awaited.
Previously, during the fourth Test, Ravi Shastri, Bharat Arun, and R Sridhar had tested positive for Covid-19. That has prevented them from traveling to Manchester with the rest of the contingent.
Team India physio Nitin Patel, Arun, and Sridhar were identified as Shastri’s close contacts by BCCI’s medical team and were asked to isolate themselves. While the other three returned positive, Patel tested negative and joined the squad.
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