The ECB had released a statement, stating that the game has been postponed indefinitely after a few Indian cricketers showed reluctance to take part.
The fifth and final Test between India and England was seen getting cancelled after the COVID-19 virus entered the Indian camp. The match was thrown in doubt after India physiotherapist Yogesh Parmar had tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Wednesday.
The core main support staff group - including head coach Ravi Shastri, bowling coach Bharat Arun and fielding coach R Shrishar - who are in isolation have not travelled with the team to Manchester for the final Test. Batting coach Vikram Rathour was the only senior support staff with the team.
After a lot of debate and talks among former cricketers and fans over the fifth match at Old Trafford in Manchester getting cancelled, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has written to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to begin the adjudication process.
The ECB had released a statement, mentioning that the game has been postponed indefinitely after a few Indian cricketers showed reluctance to take part.
Currently, there are chances of two outcomes. One, if the ICC's Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) reckons that the game was cancelled for valid reasons under ICC’s rules for COVID allowances, the result will be declared null and void and in that case, India will win the series 2-1.
However, if it is found that India forfeited the match, then the game will be awarded to the host nation and with that, the series will end at a 2-2 draw.
The World Test Championship (WTC) playing conditions don't allow teams to play in certain circumstances. The conditions state, "Any matches that do not take place due to the Acceptable Non-Compliance of one or both Parties (as defined in the World Test Championship Competition Terms) shall not be taken into account in the calculation of the Points Percentage."
According to ECB chief executive, Tom Harrison, he stated that the Manchester Test's cancellation was not due to the COVID-19 outbreak. He added that mental health and well-being were the reasons behind the match not happening.
"This is not a COVID cancellation. The match was cancelled because of serious concerns over the mental health and well-being of one of the teams and there is a difference…We have the ICC adjudicate over whether this series is completed now, whether that fifth match is null and void or whether it's actually regarded as a forfeiture or something else," Harrison was quoted as saying in Cricbuzz.
As for the adjudication process, once it gets underway, the apex board will commission a report on the happenings in Manchester.
The report will then be passed on to the chairman of the DRC - Michael Beloff QC - who will determine whether the cancellation of the match fell under COVID guidelines or if India really did forfeit the game.
The cancellation of the Test leads to the ECB and Lancashire Cricket facing losses worth millions. If the reason for cancelling the match isn't found to be under COVID guidelines, the boards are likely to mitigate some of the financial damage.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "ENG vs IND")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}