Taking the travel restrictions into account during the pandemic, the Virat Kohli-led Indian side is expected to prepone their travel to the UK for the ICC World Test Championship final versus New Zealand. The summit clash is scheduled to take place in Southampton starting June 18.
As per a report on Sports Tak, with the IPL suspended – the Indian players would leave for the UK as early as the last week of May, instead of the first week of June.
The same report claims that the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) is in talks with the UK government in this regard. In the wake of the Covid-19 surge, the UK government put India on a travel ‘red list’ – which means banning the entry of Indian nationals – from April 23.
It is believed that the BCCI may be asked to send a list of players and support staff who would be traveling to the UK. The list of players featuring in the WTC final and the Test series against England starting August 4.
Reports suggest that the two boards will make the proposal in front of the British government.
The inaugural WTC will give a chance to the Blackcaps to win their first-ever ICC title. They have neither won the T20 World Cup, nor the 50-over WC. They are a quality side and have been played consistently well and hence find themselves featuring in the summit clash.
Meanwhile, in what must have been a massive setback for the BCCI – the IPL 2021 season was suspended on Tuesday after Wriddhiman Saha and Amit Mishra tested positive for the novel virus.
While BCCI has reportedly said that it is eyeing the September window, it remains to be seen how the apex cricketing board manages to complete the remaining 31 matches.