England is scheduled to play five Tests in India next year.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has reportedly conveyed its willingness to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to host Team India’s scheduled Test series against England if need arises given the spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in India.
Earlier, India were to host England in the white-ball fixtures in September-October but the series has been postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic with the BCCI and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) pushing the fixtures to next year, as the two teams are now scheduled to play a full-fledged series in 2021.
However, despite pushing the India-England series until 2021, there are still doubts whether a full tour involving five Test matches, three One Day International (ODI) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20I) from January to March 2021 would be possible since the country is witnessing high number of Coronavirus cases for a long time now with over 60,000 patients being tested positive for COVID-19 regularly.
However, the SLC is willing to host the India-England Test series with the improving situation in the country with the reopening of schools earlier this week. England would be in Sri Lanka to conclude their March's postponed two-match Test series in January next year - around the same time when India is slated to host Joe Root and his team in the five Tests.
The report said there is a possibility of England staying back after Sri Lanka tests and SLC wants to play host for India if the BCCI decides to stage home international fixtures away given the current Coronavirus situation.
SLC had also proposed to host IPL 2020, which would be now held in the UAE, and BCCI might this time consider the offer since India is currently being the third-highest COVID-19 hit county in the world after the USA and Brazil and there is presently no sign of any relief from the disease.
A 'The Island' report stated: “The possibility of England staying back after their two Tests in Sri Lanka to complete the series against India has been given some thought after SLC came up with the suggestion.”
However, a senior BCCI official said the BCCI is currently not in the mood to entertain such a proposal while revealing he has not heard of any formal proposal by the SLC about the same.
The official told PTI on conditions of anonymity: “At this point, the BCCI is not even entertaining such a proposal as it is still four months away.”
Noteworthy, Sri Lanka is slated to play Bangladesh in October after their series in July was postponed.
(With PTI/The Island Inputs)