The inaugural World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand will go forward as deliberate in Southampton from June 18, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has assured after Britain added India to its travel ‘red list’ following a large surge in COVID-19 caseload. India’s entry into the ‘red list’ successfully bans all travel from the nation and makes a 10-day lodge quarantine obligatory for UK residents arriving again house.
However, the ICC expressed confidence in staging the WTC final in a bio-secure surroundings. “The ECB and other members have demonstrated how we can stage international cricket safely in the middle of a pandemic and we are confident that we can continue to do that and that the WTC Final will go ahead as planned in June in the UK,” mentioned the ICC in a press release on Monday night time.
“We are currently discussing with the UK Government the impact of countries being on the ‘red list’,” it added.
A BCCI supply advised information company PTI that it’s troublesome to say something at this time limit and the Board is hoping that India is not going to be within the ‘red list’ by the point the group leaves for UK in early June for the WTC final. “We nonetheless don’t understand how the scenario will pan out in June. The travel associated SOPs are at all times dynamic as per COVID scenario. When India leaves for UK in the beginning of June, it could be that the nation is just not in purple record which requires 10 days of laborious quarantine.
“But, if it is needed, it would be done. The situation is too fluid right now,” the supply mentioned on circumstances of anonymity.
Media experiences within the UK mentioned that in case it’s required, the Rose Bowl in Southampton and it on-site lodge could possibly be cleared for ‘red list’ arrivals by reverting to the total bio-secure arrange that noticed it efficiently stage worldwide fixtures final season.
“We are currently discussing with the government the impact of countries being on the ‘red list’. By working collaboratively we demonstrated how we can stage international cricket safely in the middle of a pandemic and hope to be able to do so again this year,” an ECB spokesperson was quoted as saying by the Guardian newspaper.
The Indian girls’s cricket group can be scheduled to tour UK in June whereas the lads’s group is to play 5 Tests in England beginning August 4.
There can be concern about how the inclusion of India within the ‘red list’ will affect the England and New Zealand cricketers who’re at the moment enjoying within the IPL and intend to fly to the UK for the two-match Test sequence between the 2 international locations that begins on the Lord’s on June 2. The IPL will conclude on May 30 with the summit conflict scheduled in Ahmedabad.
India has reported 2,59,170 new constructive circumstances in final 24 hours, the best single-day surge, taking the nation’s COVID-19 caseload previous the 1.5 crore mark.
(with PTI inputs)
