A £40m financial loss looms for the ECB as India withdraws from the final Test of the series in Manchester amid a Covid-19 scare.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is determined to ensure that India returns for a one-off Test match following the cancellation of the series finale in Manchester, which was called off just hours before the scheduled start due to a Covid-19 outbreak among the Indian players and support staff. The abrupt decision has left the ECB facing a significant financial loss, estimated at £40 million, as nearly 90,000 ticket-holders now expect refunds.
The match was scheduled to be the fifth and final Test of the series, with India leading 2-1 and in a strong position to secure their first series win in England since 2007. However, after a fourth member of the Indian support staff tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday night, the players decided they could not take the field. Despite clearing emergency PCR tests, they expressed concerns over further virus spread, especially with physio Yogesh Parmar, who had treated several injured players, testing positive.
The cancellation of the Test, just two hours before the toss, left many in the cricketing world frustrated. ECB chief executive Tom Harrison expressed disappointment, stating, “It’s a really sad day… My heart goes out to fans. We’re absolutely gutted.” Harrison further clarified that while the Indian Premier League (IPL) was set to resume shortly after, the cancellation was unrelated to the IPL and stemmed from genuine concerns over player health.
The dispute over the cause of the cancellation has led to confusion, with the Indian team citing Covid-19 concerns, while Harrison stated the issue was related to mental health and wellbeing, making it a different case from one directly caused by the virus. This disagreement has led to uncertainty regarding the series result and how the situation will be handled by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
