'India have let England cricket down; such a shame' - Twitter reacts after Manchester Test cancellation

The BCCI and ECB are understood to be working together to find a potential window for rescheduling the fixture.

By Pratyay Tiwari

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Virat Kohli
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Virat Kohli. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)

After plenty of drama on what was supposed to be the first day of the final Test between England and India, the encounter in Manchester was called off in a mutual decision between both the boards – BCCI and ECB.

“Following ongoing conversations with the BCCI, the ECB can confirm that the fifth LV= Insurance Test between England and India Men due to start today at Emirates Old Trafford, will be cancelled,” said the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in a statement.

“Due to fears of a further increase in the number of COVID cases inside the camp, India are regrettably unable to field a team. We send our sincere apologies to fans and partners for this news, which we know will cause immense disappointment and inconvenience to many.”

Notably, Indian players expressed their concerns to the BCCI regarding playing in the final Test after assistant physiotherapist Yogesh Parmar tested positive for Covid-19 on September 9, which led to the cancellation of the team’s practice session on the eve of the final game. All players underwent a round of RT-PCR testing and returned negative tests, although the results of the second round of testing are yet to be confirmed.

Parmar was not the first person to contract with the dreaded virus, as India Head Coach Ravi Shastri returned a positive test during both team’s fixture at The Oval. Deemed as his close contacts, bowling coach Bharat Arun, fielding coach R Sridhar and physio Nitin Patel were forced into isolation, and much like Shastri, did not travel to Manchester.

Unlike Shastri, whose close contacts were easily determinable, it was difficult to zero down that in Parmar’s case as he continuously mingled with the players during practice and training, not least because of Nitin Patel’s absence.

It is understood that Shastri was exposed during a book launch event, which was attended by numerous people. Certain reports have also been suggestive of the BCCI being miffed with both Shastri and skipper Virat Kohli for not seeking approval before attending the event, while the English media, too, has been critical of the duo for opting to move outside the bio-secure environment.

Meanwhile, after speculations over where the future of the ongoing series lies, the BCCI is understood to have reached out to the ECB to work for a possible solution, most likely a rescheduling of the Test at a later date. India, as per the recently announced summer schedule by the ECB, is set to tour England for six white-ball games next July.

Even as their remains a ray of hope that their will be proper ending of the series that has given one and all abundant joy, the full-of-ruckus proceedings over the last two days have left many disappointed.

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