England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has categorically denied receiving a request from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to tweak the schedule of the five-Test series in August-September. The ECB has said the five-Test series will go ahead as scheduled.
Earlier, it was reported that the BCCI is in talks with the ECB to alter the schedule of the 5-match Test series against England in order to make space for the Indian board to create a window for the remaining IPL 2021 matches.
England And Wales Cricket Board Denies Official Request To Change Dates For India Vs England Test Series
The BCCI is reportedly looking to have the England Test series start early (in the final week of July) and reduce the gap between subsequent matches to open up a bigger window in September for the remaining 31 matches of IPL 2021. If the changes are made, the BCCI can organize the remainder of the T20 league either in England or in UAE.
“We talk to the BCCI on a regular basis about a wide range of issues especially as we address the challenges of Covid-19, but have had no official request to change dates and are continuing to plan for the five-Test series as is scheduled,” a spokesman for the England And Wales Cricket Board said late on Thursday (May 19) night.
Indian and English media were flush with reports of a BCCI request to advance the fifth Test at Old Trafford from September second week to July fourth week. The BCCI request, the reports said, was in view of creating a window to hold the unfinished Indian Premier League (IPL) games in September.
BCCI Enquired About The Possibility Of Moving The Final 5th Test To Make Room For The Postponed IPL 2021: Reports
Originally, the five Tests were scheduled to be held from August 4 to September 14 at Nottingham, Lord’s, Leeds, Oval, and Old Trafford. Both the boards have made it clear there hasn’t been any such ‘official’ communication. Speaking to ANI, an England And Wales Cricket Board spokesperson confirmed that while the two boards have been in constant touch on a wide range of issues, there has been no official request to change the dates of the Test series.
“The Board of Control for Cricket in India has enquired about the possibility of moving the final Test of the English summer in order to make room to complete the postponed Indian Premier League. Informal discussions have been had between the respective boards as cricket continues to grapple with a schedule ravaged by Covid.”
“The request puts the England And Wales Cricket Board in a tricky position, stuck between the rock of wanting to maintain good relations with the most powerful cricket nation as well as being as flexible and helpful as possible given the postponement of the game’s most financially lucrative competition, and the hard place of not impacting on their own carefully planned domestic schedule.
At this late stage, it is hard to see the ECB acceding to any potential change and it is expected to hold its ground,” a report in Times London said, kick-starting media a flurry of reports in both India and England.
The BCCI has been silent since the report surfaced on Thursday morning; its officials steadfastly refusing to comment. As per reports, the BCCI was thereafter looking for a window in September to finish the remaining games. Though England And Wales Cricket Board have denied the reports of BCCI asking for a tweak in the Test series schedule, further developments on the matter remain to be seen.
A BCCI official said it came as quite a surprise to think that the Indian board would want to reschedule a Test series at such a stage — the first game starts on August 4.