ENG vs IND Test called off due to Covid-19 scare

The fifth and series deciding Test between England and India which was scheduled to start on Friday at Old Trafford in Manchester has been cancelled after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) mutually decided that it is the best way forward in wake of the Covid-19 scare that has gripped the series.

The (ECB) announced that the match will not take place through a press release just hours before the match.

"Following ongoing conversations with the BCCI, the ECB can confirm that the fifth Test between England and India Men will be cancelled. 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." ECB said in the official statement.

India cancelled their final training session and mandatory pre-match press conference on Thursday after reports that another support staff member had tested positive for Covid-19.

India’s head coach Ravi Shastri, bowling Coach Bharat Arun and fielding coach Ramakrishnan Sridhar had already tested positive. Now, India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and net bowler Dayanand Garani tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the Test series.

Anyhow there was a fear of building a Covid-19 cluster in the Indian camp. As a precautionary measure, both BCCI and ECB came to a mutual agreement to cancel the fifth Test.