The BCCI is reportedly engaged in unofficial discussion with its English counterpart to alter the Test series schedule. The Indian board is looking to create a window to complete the reaming games of the suspended IPL.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is trying to advance the five-match series in England by a week, according to Sportstar. An approval by the England and Wales Cricket Board can create a window for the remaining 31 IPL matches before the ICC T20 World Cup.
There is a 42-day gap between the ICC World Test Championship final and the India-England five-match series. The Test Championship final between India and New Zealand will be played at Southampton from June 18 to 22. England is slated to host India for the five-Test series from August 4 and September 14.
The Virat Kohli-led Indians will be staying in England after the Test Championship final. The BCCI, Sportstar has learnt, is eyeing to utilise the available period to create a window to complete the IPL, which may be staged in the UK.
The publication, quoting a BCCI insider, has also reported that advancing the Test series might not be possible. The Indian board might also reach out to Counties to forfeit a Test.
“Since the venues in England are booked keeping in mind their tight international calendar and The Hundred, it’s not possible for them to advance the series. If any of the counties agree, India will compensate with increasing the number of games in the limited-overs series next year,” the publication has quoted a BCCI source as saying.
A spokesperson at the England and Wales Cricket Board, however, has said that they have not heard anything formally from the BCCI. “We talk to the BCCI on a regular basis about a wide range of issues especially as we address the challenges of COVID-19 but have had no official request to change dates and are continuing to plan for the five Test series as scheduled,” the spokesperson said.
The T20 World Cup is slated set to start in the second fortnight of October 20. The BCCI might not just find a three-week window to squeeze in the suspended IPL. The Covid-19 protocols and mandatory quarantine norms make the task almost impossible.
