The postponed decisive Manchester Test of the India vs England five-Test series was cancelled due to Covid-19 outbreak in the Indian contingent which was followed by huge controversy. Now, India will be playing one-off Test match in Manchester next year to make up for the cancelled fixture, a Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) source told Sports Tak.
The source said that BCCI and England Cricket Board (ECB) were in constant touch since the cancellation of the Test. The Manchester Test next year is highly likely to be a one-off Test and not in continuation of the series.
Earlier this month, head coach Ravi Shastri bowling, coach Bharath Arun, fielding coach R Sridhar had tested positive for the virus on September 6 followed by physiotheraphist Yogesh Parmar on September 9. With Nitin Patel in isolation as he was a close contact of the affected, Parmar was the only physiotherapist who was in close contact with most players in the team.
Keeping in mind the health and safety of the players, BCCI cited incubation period of the virus as the main reason to call off the Test in its letter to the English board.
Before the abrupt end to the long tour, India were leading the Test series by 2-1. With rain forecast on most number of days, India had a good chance to win the series and create history on English soil.
