Eng vs Ind 5th Test: Manchester Test cancellation all about money and IPL, says Michael Vaughan
Eng vs Ind 5th Test: Former England captain Michael Vaughan said the Manchester Test between India and England was cancelled because players were petrified of catching Covid and missing the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The fifth and final Test between India and England was cancelled on Friday after the visitors' assistant physio tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday.
Also Read | Eng vs Ind 5th Test in Manchester called off over Covid-19 concerns
"Let's be honest, this is all about money and the IPL. The Test has been cancelled because players were petrified of catching covid and missing the IPL," Michael Vaughan wrote in his column for The Telegraph.
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"In a week or so we will be watching the IPL and the players will be running around smiling and happy. But they should have trusted the PCR tests. We know a lot about this virus now. We know how to manage and handle it better. Players are double vaccinated and biosecurity can be raised very quickly," he added.
Vaughan also said that he finds it hard to believe that India found it tough to find 11 players for the final Test against England.
"The game of cricket needed this Test match. The series was brilliantly poised. It just does not sit comfortably that a Test match can be cancelled 90 minutes before the toss. It is completely disrespectful towards the paying public," said Vaughan.
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) CEO Tom Harrison said that it was frustrating to see the fifth Test between England and India being cancelled and the board tried its best to avoid this outcome.
BCCI offered to ECB a rescheduling of the cancelled 5th Test match which was scheduled to be played at Manchester from Friday.
The BCCI and ECB held several rounds of discussion to find a way to play the Test match, however, the outbreak of Covid-19 in the Indian team contingent forced the decision of calling off the game.
-PTC News
