ECB seeks ICC's help on outcome of cancelled Manchester Test against India

The fifth Test between England and India was called off due to fears of COVID-19 in the Indian camp. While the decision to call off the match was taken mutually, both boards failed to reach an agreement on the result of the match.

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Earlier, England Cricket Board (ECB) had stated that India forfeited the match but changed their statement later after BCCI’s disagreement. In case of a forfeit, the match would have gone to England and the series scoreline would have read 2-2.

Since both parties are unable to reach a settlement, ECB has asked the ICC to decide the fate of the game.

"Yes we have written to the ICC," an ECB spokesperson told PTI when asked if they want the global body to decide on the fifth Test.

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The ECB want ICC to declare the match as forfeited so that they can claim the insurance. The board will lose 40 million pounds if the match is considered abandoned due to COVID.

As per ECB, ICC should give the verdict in their favour as it was India that pulled out of the match despite the players returning negative RT PCR results.

Senior Indian players were not keen to play the fifth Test as most players were in close contact with the assistant physio Yogesh Parmar who tested positive for the virus.

India were leading the series 2-1 thus if ICC declare the match as abandoned, India will be declared winners. In case the match is considered as forfeited, then the verdict of the series will be 2-2.

To compensate for the 5th Test, both BCCI and ECB are keen to play a one-off Test when India tour England in July next year for a limited overs series but the match won't be part of the recent series.