The fifth Test between India and England scheduled to begin from Friday (September 10) is cancelled amid the Covid-19 scare in the India camp, said a statement from England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
“Following ongoing conversations with the BCCI, the ECB can confirm that the fifth LV= Insurance Test between England and India Men due to start today (September 10) at Emirates Old Trafford, will be cancelled,” the official statement by ECB read.
“We send our sincere apologies to fans and partners for this news, which we know will cause immense disappointment and inconvenience to many. Further information will be shared in due course,” ECB concluded the statement by announcing that the further updates would be revealed in due course.
Though the players tested negative but with the 96-hour incubation period also factored in, they didn’t want to risk testing positive and ending in 10-day quarantine informed BCCI sources.
Ahead of the fifth and final Test against England, India’s head coach Ravi Shastri was tested positive with COVID-19. Before the start of the fourth day of the fourth Test, the BCCI said that its medical team had isolated Ravi Shastri, Bharat Arun, Sridhar and physio Nitin Patel.
All the other members of the team were subjected to a Lateral Flow test on Saturday and Sunday morning, following which members resulting negative were allowed to proceed for Day 4 of the fourth Test at The Oval against England.