ECB Denies Rumours Of BCCI Asking For Preponement Of Test Series
Updated - 21 May 2021, 01:11 PM
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has dismissed the recent rumors of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asking them to prepone the Test series between India and England to accommodate the now-suspended IPL 2021, which was halted earlier in the month due to covid-19 outbreak in four franchises.
As the current schedule, the Test series will run from August 4 to September 14; the T20 World Cup is expected to commence in mid-October. With the quarantine protocols and the World Cup practice matches, the BCCI would have less than a month’s window ahead of the mega-event to complete the IPL.
Since there is a gap of more than a month between the World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand and the Test series, reports surfaced that the BCCI has asked the ECB to push forward the Test series. However, an ECB spokesman has completely denied such reports saying that the Indian board hasn’t made any such demands, and the 5-Test series will go as planned.
“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,” an ECB spokesman was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz on Thursday (May 19) night.
ECB to face massive issues if the Test series schedule is modified
Since the fans are now allowed to enter the stadium, another key reason that the ECB would be unlikely to make any modifications to the Test schedule is that most of the tickets for the stadiums, as well as their own hotels, have been booked.
The availability of their star players for ECB’s new tournament, The Hundred, would also be unlikely if the Tests are preponed. A report in Times London said that the BCCI has requested ECB to move the final Test, to be played at Old Trafford, ahead in order to make room for the IPL 2021.
“The Board of Control for Cricket in India has enquired about the possibility of moving the final Test of the English summer in order to make room to complete the postponed Indian Premier League. Informal discussions have been had between the respective boards as cricket continues to grapple with a schedule ravaged by Covid.
“The request puts the ECB in a tricky position, stuck between the rock of wanting to maintain good relations with the most powerful cricket nation as well as being as flexible and helpful as possible given the postponement of the game’s most financially lucrative competition, and the hard place of not impacting on their own carefully planned domestic schedule. At this late stage it is hard to see the ECB acceding to any potential change and it is expected to hold its ground,” a report in Times London said.
The Virat Kohli-led contingent meanwhile has entered the hard quarantine in Mumbai. They are expected to fly to the UK on June 2, along with the women’s squad who will have an all-format tour lined up, including a one-off Test match – their first in 7 years.
Also Read: Team India To Play Extra Games In Sri Lanka To Cover The COVID-19 Financial Loss
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India vs England 2021 IPL 2021 The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
