ICC Not ECB To Take Call On Whether Series Ends 2-1 Or 2-2 After 5th Test Gets Cancelled Due To COVID - Reports

Many fans and cricket supporters all over the world, especially in the UK and India were disappointed as the fifth Test match between England and India was canceled on September 10, 2021. However, now it will be up to the ICC to decide the final outcome of the series whether it will be 2-1 to India or a 2-2 draw.

There were all sorts of theories and statements doing the rounds as soon as the confirmation of the cancelation of the fifth Test at Manchester was out. The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) first called for forfeiture of the Manchester Test but later changed the claim as their Indian counterparts, the BCCI, called for the fifth Test match to be postponed and/or rescheduled.

Technically speaking, India was ahead 2-1 after four Tests with their emphatic 157-run win over the hosts in the penultimate match at Kennington Oval in London. They had earlier won the second Test at Lord’s by 151 runs as well, while England came good at Leeds and won by an innings and 76 runs.

ICC, Not ECB To Decide The Final Scoreline Of The England-India Test Series

So far, the biggest talking point has been whether the England-India series’ final result would end up as a 2-2 tie in favor of both the nations or will it be 2-1 in India’s favor. Given that the series has not been completed rightfully, BCCI offered ECB to reschedule this last Test match when India visits England in 2022 for a white-ball series.

However, Tom Harrison, told Sky Sports, that any encounter between England and India going forth at Old Trafford will be a one-off Test and not the continuation of this series.

Now as per reports, if the said Test match is held anytime between now and the next year, within the ongoing two-year cycle of the World Test Championship 2021-23 (WTC), a result in the overall score of the series (currently at 2-1) including the fifth Test should be decided.

If the match is not played for some reason, it will be either the two boards-ECB and BCCI- mutually coming to a decision or a final score, or wait for the International Cricket Council (ICC) to intervene. But if the two boards continue to dispute the final scoreline of the series, the ICC will have the final authority to come to a conclusion.

But sources who know about the issue in detail said that atleast it won’t be the ECB deciding the outcome.

“It’s not for the ECB to decide. How exactly are cricketers supposed to concentrate on a Test match when they know there’s been a Covid case around them throughout and has been closely interacting with them,” said the sources who are in the know of the detailed matter.

The Indian and many of the England players will now depart for the UAE to participate in the second half of the IPL 2021 which begins on September 19.

Also Read: India vs England 2021: BCCI Wanted To Get This Game On; Don’t Think The IPL Should Worry People – ECB CEO Tom Harrison