Xtra Time Web Desk: The fifth and final test between India and England at Old Trafford has been called off in the wake of COVID-19 concerns in the Indian team. Following ongoing conversations with the BCCI, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Friday officially confirmed that the fifth Test between England and India Men due to start today at Emirates Old Trafford, will be cancelled. Due to fears of a further increase in the number of COVID cases inside the camp, India are unable to field a team and will instead forfeit the match.
Team India’s second physio Yogesh Parmar was on Wednesday tested positive for COVID-19, putting the test match in serious doubts. The Indian players on Thursday returned negative in the RT-PCR test raising hopes of play.
Even on the morning of the fifth Test, the Indian players remained in dark about the Covid-19 impacted game at Manchester. With a few hours to go before their scheduled departure to the ground, the Indian cricketers were isolated in their hotel rooms wondering if they would be asked to play the crucial Test which would decide the outcomes of the series.
India’s practice session on Thursday was cancelled off as well.
India head coach Ravi Shastri had previously tested positive for the virus during the fourth Test at The Kia Oval and has since been isolating with bowling coach Bharat Arun, fielding coach R Sridhar and physiotherapist Nitin Patel.
India lead the five match test series 2-1