No official statements from players or management as the Indian cricket community reacts with uncertainty and contemplation.
The cancellation of the final Test between India and England at Old Trafford has been met with an unexpected silence from the Indian cricket fraternity. In a rare moment, players, coaches, and management refrained from addressing the media, and there were no comments on social media, likely under the guidance of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
This quietness was amplified by the ongoing Ganesha festival in India, with many people occupied in religious and family activities, leaving little room for public commentary. Former cricketers, typically eager to share their thoughts, expressed difficulty in forming an opinion without knowing all the facts about the cancellation. One former captain stated, “Without knowing exactly what happened, how it happened, who took the call, it would be unfair to say anything at this point.”
However, Sunil Gavaskar, one of India’s most respected former cricketers, spoke out, not on the reasons behind the decision, but on the next steps. Gavaskar emphasized that rescheduling the Test would be the right course of action, citing the example of England’s return to India in 2008 following the Mumbai terrorist attacks. He praised the gesture of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and suggested that India should reciprocate in a similar manner. Gavaskar also proposed that the rescheduled Test could take place next summer, after the IPL concludes, ensuring there is time to accommodate the match before or after India’s scheduled white-ball games in England.
Dinesh Karthik, who had worked as a pundit during the series in England, provided insight into the mood in the Indian camp, highlighting the concerns after a fourth member of the Indian support staff tested positive for Covid-19. His comments offered a glimpse into the worry surrounding the health and safety of the team members in Manchester.
