Manchester Test cancelled, forfeited or abandoned? No clarity yet

The records as of now can only confirm that not even a single ball could be bowled in the Manchester Test between England and India. The teams did not travel to the Old Trafford ground on the match day. The Indians were confined to their team hotel amidst Covid-19 converns.

There is no further confirmation on the status of the Test. There is no further confirmation on the result of the five-Test series, which India led 2-1 going into the fifth and the final match.

It is reported that the cancellation of the match had dealt a £ 40 million blow to the England and Wales Cricket Board coffers. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has extended an offer to compensate the loss. The BCCI has agreed to play a Test in England. The status of the proposed Test too is unclear. There is no certainty whether the match will be part of the five-Test series. Will that be a stand-alone Test? Or, that could be an additional Test in another seires?

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All these speculations apart, the International Cricket Council will have to know the clear status of the Test which could not take place. That will determine the allocation of the World Test Championship points for the series, in which India held a 2-1 lead from four matches.

The BCCI and ECB have the option of deciding on the status of the Test amicably. The ICC will be informed accordingly whether the Test was cancelled or forfeited. “Forfeiture” appears a far gone conclusion. The ECB in its first statement on cancellation had stated that India have conceded the match. The hosts had to delete the post and issue a new statement that the match had been cancelled.

The two teams might also refer the matter to the International Cricket Council to adjudicate on the status of the match and the series. A scenario of forfeiture would result in a 2-2 draw, while the cancellation would hand India a 2-1 series win.

Covid fears gripped the Indian camp after team physiotherapist had tested positive after the team’s nets session on Wednesday. The physio had also worked with some of the team members. Earlier, head coach Ravi Shastri, bowling coach B Arun and fielding coach R Sridhar were reported Covid-19 positive prior to the Oval Test. They are quarantined in London.

The BCCI had on Friday stated that both the boards have “jointly decided to call off the Test”. That should mean a 2-1 series win for India.

PLAYERS LEAVING FOR UAE

Meanwhile, the IPL-bound players are on their way to the UAE. Mumbai Indians’ trio of Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav have already reached Abu Dhabi via a chartered flight. Some other teams will be transporting their player to the UAE via commercial flights.

Some of the English players will also be reaching the UAE to fulfil their IPL commitments.

The IPL is slated to start on September 19.

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