The BCCI and the Indian team cricket is in favour of playing the fifth test in Manchester starting from September 10, Friday. Meanwhile, the England and Wales Cricket Board have expressed their reservations in going ahead with the Test match due to COVID positive case in the Indian camp. Reports are that the two boards had a clash of opinion before a decision was reached, which was not conclusive.
As per reports in TOI, the BCCI officials was in touch with the BCCI officials and senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma regarding the fate of the fifth Test after another Indian support staff tested positive. Both the senior players have confirmed that the team is willing to play the Test match even with the fear of the virus.
Kohli and Rohit said that they have confirmed to the teammates that if the Test match is cancelled they should be allowed to win the series 2-1 or else they will play the fifth and final Test match risking the fear of COVID. Meanwhile, both the senior players have been asked to stay patient by the BCCI and wait for the final decision after a decision with the ECB, who for now seems to be reluctant to play the final Test.
Earlier, the BCCI President Sourav Ganguly spoke to the media saying that he does not have a final verdict on whether the fifth Tet match will go on as per schedule.
“We don’t know if match will happen at the moment. Hopefully we can get some game,” Ganguly was quoted as saying at the book launch of ‘Mission Domination’ in Kolkata on Thursday.
Manchester Test In Jeopardy After COVID Case In India Camp
Hello, Old Trafford 👋. Our final stop 📌#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/PUIyxFOPpV
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 8, 2021
One more Team India support staff has tested COVID-19 positive one day ahead of the fifth and final Test against England, starting on September 10 at Manchester in Old Trafford. Previously, head coach Ravi Shastri, bowling coach Bharat Arun, and fielding coach R Sridhar had contracted the virus.
As per reports in the ESPNCricinfo, the Indian squad members have been asked to stay back in their hotel rooms till further notice. The new case emerged after a fresh round of RT PCR tests that took place on Wednesday evening. The Indian players also skipped their training session on Thursday.
“If it can be argued that the Nottingham Test match could’ve gone either way, it can be argued that Manchester could go either way. Now, the point is, what if the threat of Covid goes either way? In that case, the Test match doesn’t happen, the IPL is risked and there’s a cascading after-effect to everything that ensues,” say those in favour of the Test match getting cancelled.
Also Read:ENG vs IND 2021: Another Team India Support Staff Tests COVID-19 Positive Ahead Of Manchester Test
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