Both the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have rubbished the reports of BCCI requesting a change of schedule in the five-match Tests series to make a bigger window for the IPL 2021 matches.
Both the boards have made it clear there hasn't been any such 'official' communication.
"We talk to the BCCI on a regular basis about a wide range of issues especially as we address the challenges of Covid-19, but have had no official request to change dates and are continuing to plan for the five-Test series as is scheduled,” speaking to ANI, an ECB spokesperson confirmed.
A BCCI official was surprised at the reports that BCCI wanted to change a Test series schedule where the first match begins on August 4.
"I am a little surprised, to be honest. While it is okay to have talks on certain matters, but one needs to be respectful of the time and situation. You cannot send a request for a re-schedule at almost the 11th hour. While it is true that the IPL is an important part of Indian cricket and we will wish that the remaining games can be played out this season, we also have immense respect for the ECB and our international commitments," the official told ANI.
BCCI CEO wants IPL 2021 in UAE; franchises in agreement over the tried and tested option- Reports
There have been reports that the BCCI wanted the last game of the series to be done away with or to start the Test series early as the Indians finish playing the World Test Championship final on June 22 and the opening game of the India-England Test series commences only on August 4.
However, both the Indian and England cricket boards have now made it clear that the series will go ahead as planned with the final game being played in Manchester from September 10 to 14.
The Indian players for the England tour are in Mumbai for quarantining before they fly to the UK. After the two-week quarantine in India, the players are set to undergo another 10-day quarantine in the UK. The second dose of COVID-19 vaccines for the Indian players will also be administered by the UK health department.
(ANI inputs)
