Finding window to reschedule 5th Test: BCCI

India are 2-1 ahead and have not been officially declared winners. The BCCI has claimed that both boards will work towards rescheduling the match but ECB CEO Tom Harrison said the game would be a one-off instead of being a decider for the series.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has offered to England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) a rescheduling of the cancelled 5th Test match which was scheduled to be played at Manchester from Friday.

The BCCI and ECB held several rounds of discussion to find a way to play the Test match, however, the outbreak of COVID-19 in the Indian team contingent forced the match to be called off.

"In lieu of the strong relationship between BCCI and ECB, the BCCI has offered to ECB a rescheduling of the cancelled Test match. Both the Boards will work towards finding a window to reschedule this Test match," a statement released by the BCCI read.

"The BCCI has always maintained that the safety and well-being of the players is of paramount importance and there will be no compromise on that aspect," the statement added.

India are 2-1 ahead and have not been officially declared winners. The BCCI has claimed that both boards will work towards rescheduling the match but ECB CEO Tom Harrison said the game would be a one-off instead of being a decider for the series.

"No, I think it's a stand-alone situation. We have been offered a few other options, probably need to take a look (at those)," Harrison responded when specifically asked on Sky Sports whether the rescheduled match would be a stand-alone game or the series-decider.

"The glass half full version of it is that the prospects of playing a one-off Test match against India as a focal point on this ground, let's try to deliver on that. It can be the only good news that comes out of a day like today," he added.

If the rescheduled match is a one-off engagement then India would be deemed winners of the series as it stands right now, something that has not been officially confirmed yet.

The only plausible window for such an arrangement seems to be July next year when the Indian team visits England for a six-match white-ball series.

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly will be in the UK from September 22 on a personal visit and is expected to meet Harrison and ECB chairman Ian Watmore to discuss the modalities of the one-off match next year.

He will discuss the 40 million pounds loss that the ECB is facing, which is not covered by insurance.

"The ECB stands to lose 40 million pounds with 30 million in broadcasts and 10 million in ticketing and hospitality," a source explained.

According to reports, India decided not to play the match after senior players were against taking the field following a fresh COVID-19 case in the contingent.

Ahead of the fifth and final Test against England, India’s junior physio Yogesh Parmar tested positive for COVID-19 in Manchester, leading to the cancellation of the team’s training session on Thursday.