In what is a good piece of news for cricket fans, the entire Indian squad currently in Manchester, tested negative for COVID-19 in the RT-PCR tests after undergoing testing on Thursday morning, September 9, 2021.

The fate of the fifth Test of the Pataudi Trophy, which India is leading 2-1, was in the balance after India's assistant physio Yogesh Parmar tested Covid-19 positive on Wednesday evening. Team India’s practice session on Thursday morning was canceled and the players were asked to remain inside their hotel rooms.

The BCCI got concerned about whether the development could have a cascading effect on the second half of the IPL, which starts in the UAE from September 19, five days after the Manchester Test. There were reports of the ECB asking the Indian team to forfeit the fifth Test match if they wanted it to be canceled.

The BCCI does not want the IPL to be impacted as it is scheduled to host the men's 2020 World Cup in the UAE and Oman two days after the IPL ends, on October 15.

It has also been reported that on Thursday morning the BCCI's top brass conducted a virtual meeting with the Indian team management including captain Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri to figure a way forward.

It is understood that the Indian players remain concerned although they have left the final decision with the BCCI.

 (ESPNCricinfo inputs)