ECB wants ICC to allow COVID-19 substitutes during upcoming Test series

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has appealed to the International Cricket Council (ICC) for allowing coronavirus player substitutions during its forthcoming test series against West Indies and Pakistan, an ECB official confirmed.

On Friday, Steve Elworthy - ECB director of events - expressed his hopes of an agreement will be reached in the coming days for those test matches, which the nation's cricketing board plans to hold in “bio-secure” venues in July.

"I know there are still some considerations from an ICC perspective about a Covid-19 replacement," Elworthy was quoted as saying by UK media.

"That still needs to be agreed," he added.

As the coronavirus outbreak has brought all sports activities to a halt, players are practising social distancing and self-isolation during the pandemic.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the governments all around are urging people to stay at home.

On May 29, ECB also revealed the list names of the men's national players who resumed training as a part of the back-to-training group.

The cricketing body announced fifty-five players have been picked to return to training to prepare for behind-closed-doors cricket, subject to UK Government clearance.

Back on Thursday (May 28), ECB further delayed the restart of professional domestic cricket season until August 1 saying that no domestic cricket will be played amid COVID-19 scares.