There was a lot of uncertainty surrounding the final Test ever since India's second physio Yogesh Parmar tested positive for COVID-19.
Follow Us
The fifth and final Test of the ongoing five-match series between England and India has been cancelled as officially confirmed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The decision has been taken following a discussion with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), with the Indian team unable to field a team due to fear over a further increase in the number of COVID cases inside the camp. Head coach Ravi Shastri had recently tested positive for the dangerous virus, resulting in the remaining support staff members being placed under quarantine. This was followed by India’s second physio Yogesh Parmar being ruled positive as well, causing a lot of uncertainty surrounding the final Test.
“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 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 regrettably unable to field a team. 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,” read the statement from ECB.
Team India were leading the five-match series by a 2-1 margin, with a lack of clarity over the final scoreline.
The BCCI medical team isolated Shastri, bowling coach B Arun, fielding coach R Sridhar and physiotherapist Nitin Patel, with the decision taken as a precautionary measure after the head coach’s lateral flow test returned positive. All four members of the setup underwent RT-PCR testing and remained in the team hotel. They further did not travel with Team India, having not received confirmation from the medical team.
The remaining members of the Team India contingent underwent two lateral flow tests. The first was conducted the same night as Shastri testing positive was detected, with the second one the next morning. The members upon returning negative COVID reports were allowed to proceed for Day 4 of the fourth Test at The Oval.
Shastri was most recently seen during his book launch event in London, which witnessed the presence of Team India skipper Virat Kohli as well. Kohli revealed that the former commentator’s first speech inside the dressing room shook him.
“His experiences have been priceless for us and they continue to be. I will say a few words on our working relationship, our bond over the years. Started in 2014, I met him many times because he was the most prominent voice in cricket from India and worldwide. We always look forward to his commentary skills. We actually started working together then,” said the Team India skipper at the book launch event as quoted by News 18.
“I remember in 2014 he gave us a pep talk for the first time. We were a bit down as a team and things were not happening well and he was brought in, he was brought in for the second time to set things right. In his first speech he gave, the first word he said was ‘boys’ in the voice that only he can generate. And I clearly remember, I was sitting down and my body shook because I had never heard someone speak so clearly and with so much determination and positivity,” added Kohli.
“All I can say is that our working relationship has been built on trust and mutual respect, on a vision that has been shared. The only focus is to take Indian cricket higher and in a better place. Both of us together along with the brilliance of the whole team and the talent we have been blessed with, I think we have been able to achieve that and it’s something we are proud of,” concluded the Team India skipper.
Rishabh Pant's explosive last-over blitz ignites IPL 2024 amid T20 World Cup comeback talks
