BCCI announces schedule for England tour, series to kick off with two Tests in Chennai

CHENNAI: After 13 months, international cricket will resume in India on February 5, 2021 as the Board of Control for Cricket in India announced the itinerary for a full-fledged England tour. The series will begin in Chennai, with the MA Chidambaram Stadium hosting the first two Tests, followed by two more at Ahmedabad's newly constructed Sardar Patel Stadium.

The BCCI has restricted the number of venues to two keeping in mind the necessity to create a bio-bubble. Apart from hosting the third Test, which will be a day/night affair, and the fourth Test, Ahmedabad will also host all the five T20Is which will be played between March 12 to 20.

From Ahmedabad, the teams will move to Pune for the three-match ODI series. It will be held on March 23, 26 and 28 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.

While Bengaluru was also in line to host the ODIs, the BCCI wanted to continue with its rotation policy.

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"Both Boards have worked closely to put together an exciting series that promises to provide high octane action between two powerhouses of world cricket. This will be India's first bilateral series at home since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and the home season will bring back joy to cricket fans," BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a statement.

England, who head to Sri Lanka to play two-match Test series, which is under the World Test Championship, will land in Chennai on January 27. With the first Test starting in Chennai on February 5, England are unlikely to be kept under quarantine as there are just eight days between the two series.

It is understood that the BCCI and respective state units are working closely with the local health authorities and would present them the IPL model, which ensured a smooth conduct of the tournament.

England were hesitant to tour India citing the pandemic and instead wanted the series to be played in the UAE. But the BCCI has always been for playing the series at home.

Though international cricket returns to India, the possibility of allowing fans in the stadium looks highly unlikely at the moment. Though Chennai has opened cinema halls and public transport is allowed to operate, it remains to be seen if they will allow fans at Chepauk.