Indian players clear Covid-19 test, Old Trafford Test likely to go ahead as scheduled

In a big relief for both the BCCI and the ECB, all Indian players have tested negative for Covid-19 in the latest round of testing and it could well mean the fifth and final Test of the series between India and England will go ahead as planned.

The uncertainty around the fifth Test emerged in the wake of India’s assistant physiotherapist Yogesh Parmar testing positive for the virus upon the team’s arrival in Manchester for the last Test. Following his positive report, India’s training sessions and press conference on a day prior to the game were also cancelled.

Meanwhile, as per a Times of India report, the BCCI and the ECB were at loggerheads over the viability of the final game of the series in case there would have been more cases in the Indian camp. The host board asked the BCCI to give the England team a walkover from the last game which would have meant the ongoing series would have ended in a draw. However, the report further suggested that the BCCI on the advice of the players refused to accept the condition before the tests came negative.

Another report in The Hindu suggested that the BCCI was eager to abandon the final Test of the series as it could create a hurdle in the swift transfer of players from England to biosecure bubbles for the IPL to be played right after the series.

India lead the five-match series and hence they are reluctant to forfeit the final game while England are eager to draw the series at whatever cost.

The Covid-19 infection to physiotherapist comes days after India’s head coach, bowling and fielding coach were tested positive for the highly contagious virus during the last Test at the Oval.