Xtra Time Web Desk: Virat Kohli and his team refused to play the fifth and final test against England at Old Trafford due to health concerns over COVID-19 said BCCI President Sourav Ganguly. The BCCI chief also clarified IPL has not played any part in the decision. The fifth test at Old Trafford had to be cancelled barely two hours before the scheduled start after the two boards – Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) jointly decided to go ahead with the test.
“The players refused to play but you can’t blame them,” Ganguly told in an interview to The Telegraph on Monday.
Team India’s second physio Yogesh Parmar tested positive for COVID-19 two days before the test match. The Indian players were asked to strictly remain in their hotel rooms in Manchester. The Indian team also cancelled their practice session a day before the test match.
“Physio Yogesh Parmar was such a close contact of the players…he mixed freely with the players and even performed their Covid tests.He also used to give them massage, he was part of their everyday lives,” said Sourav.
England and Wales Cricket Board CEO Tom Harrison has already said the cancellation had nothing to do with the IPL and Ganguly echoed those comments.
“The BCCI will never be an irresponsible board. We value other boards too,” he said, adding that the match is likely to be held as a one-off match next year.