England tour of India for the limited-overs series in late this year is set to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Also, the upcoming New Zealand A tour of India is likely to face the same disheartening fate.
Coronavirus pandemic has forced to postpone many cricket events since the last March and the trend is going on continuously. Already some international cricket series, including India’s FTP schedules, stand postponed in these distressing times.
Now, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to postpone the home limited-overs series against England as well as India A vs New Zealand A matches due to ongoing coronavirus pandemic in the country.
According to the FTP schedule, England will tour in India in this September-October for the three-match ODI and T20I series. The ODI series will also be the part of the 2020–22 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League.
A BCCI official has clarified that the English team will not travel to India in the present circumstances.
The BCCI official told PTI, “England were supposed to play six games (three ODIs and three T20 Internationals) during late September. Obviously in the current circumstances England won’t be travelling to India.”
New Zealand A had a tour of India scheduled in August
The official decision about the postponement of these limited-overs series can be taken in the forthcoming BCCI Apex Council meeting on this Friday (17th July). According to the early plan, New Zealand A will also travel to India in August, but this is now also set to postponed.
The official added, “I guess a formal announcement will happen once the FTP issue is discussed as it’s part of the agenda during Friday’s Apex Council meeting. New Zealand A had a tour of India scheduled in August and even that’s also unlikely to go ahead.”
Recently, the BCCI President Sourav Ganguly confirmed that they are planning to organise a camp in August to begin the training session of the Indian cricketers.
Reminding that point, the official added, “Our (BCCI) president (Sourav Ganguly), in a recent interview, said that they are planning for a camp in August if the situation permits. It’s common sense that under these circumstances, no matches can be held.”
According to the FTP schedule, England will also tour in India in early 2021
England will also tour in India in January 2021 for the five-match Test series, which will be the part of the 2019–21 ICC World Test Championship. Recently, a TOI report claimed that the home Test series against England can be shortened to the three matches. During England tour of India in early 2021, the hosts can also organise the limited-overs series which can even stretch for the five matches.