The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) bid to shift the five-Test series between India and England, beginning August 4, by every week so as to accommodate the remaining 31 Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 video games has not met with any beneficial response from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
While the BCCI didn’t make any formal request because it was confirmed by the ECB spokesperson, it’s learnt that the casual discussions between the bigwigs of each boards haven’t yielded any beneficial end result.
“There is no chance of ECB acceding to BCCI’s request of shifting the dates of the Test series. Since they have made their stand point clear informally, I don’t think there is any point of making a formal request,” a senior BCCI supply within the know of issues informed information company PTI.
“The ECB have their inaugural ‘Hundred’ from July 24 to August 21. Their broadcast deals and everything is in place. So there is no chance of any shift happening,” the supply stated.
Indian staff is a possible hole of six weeks after the completion of World Test Championship (WTC) remaining towards New Zealand which is scheduled from June 18 to 22 in Southampton and begin of the England series.
The five-Test series begins with first match at Nottingham (Aug-4-8), adopted by Lord’s (Aug 12-16), Leeds (Aug 25-29), Oval (Sep 2-6) and Manchester (Sep 10-14). However, a possible begin within the final week of July, with lesser gaps between the Tests would open the complete month of September by which BCCI can now full the IPL within the UAE between September 15 to October 15.
Former England captain Michael Atherton had in reality hinted that ECB gained’t pay attention to BCCI’s request. “At this late stage it is hard to see the ECB acceding to any potential change and it is expected to hold its ground,” Atherton wrote in ‘The Times’.
“The fifth Test of the India series is due to be held at Emirates Old Trafford between September 10-14. Lancashire have already pre-sold three full days, and with a fair wind between now and then, would expect to sell the match out completely. Moving the game at this late stage to earlier in the season would create logistical headaches for Lancashire, the ECB and the England team, not to say those spectators who have spent money and planned to attend,” he reasoned in his article.
The BCCI, it’s learnt, has already began talks with numerous boards concerning the window between September 15 to October 15 with UAE being nearly zeroed in because the vacation spot like 2020 version.
“In case of World T20, the BCCI won’t take a call now but for all practical reasons and an expected third wave, the chances of the global event happening in the UAE post IPL looks like a distinct possibility,” the supply stated.
(with PTI inputs)
