The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to forfeit the fifth and final Test of the ongoing series which is to be played from September 10th in Manchester’s Old Trafford ground.
ECB meant that Team India should give England team a walk-over – if they wanted the fifth Test match to be canceled. This came after another member of India support staff, assistant physio Yogesh Parmar was found COVID positive and clouds have formed over the last Test, as India leads the series 2-1.
It is also learnt that the BCCI, during all this, was in touch with the team management and senior cricketers. India captain Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are learnt to have conveyed, in absolutely clear terms, that the Indian team would not forfeit the Test match – even if it meant playing the game under the Covid cloud.
Both Kohli and Sharma are adamant that should Covid disturb things, the Test match can be cancelled provided India takes the series 2-1 or they, apropos of Covid, are ready to play the Test as and when decided between the two Boards.
The BCCI asked both the senior cricketers to hold back and engaged in talks with the ECB, who finally relented.
"We don't know if the match will happen at the moment. Hopefully, we can get some game," said Sourav Ganguly at the book launch of 'Mission Domination' in Kolkata and was quoted by PTI.
It should be pointed out here that had the final session of the Trent Bridge Test match not rained out, India was a firm favourite to take the game.
“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.
As per Times of India reports, ECB was still contemplating on whether to back out from its demand in asking for forfeiture or stick to their stand.
(Times of India/PTI inputs)
