After the last-minute cancellation of the fifth and final Test between India and hosts England in Manchester due to Covid concerns, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has offered the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to play two extra T20Is in England next year.
The Men In Blue is scheduled to tour England again next year for three ODIs and as many T20Is.
A Daily Mail report said: “However, the offer — designed to help ease a potential shortfall of 40 million pounds in English cricket’s already stretched budget — would be instead of, not as well as, the rescheduled Test. The offer of a rescheduled Test still stands.”
“There is also the question of corporate hospitality, tickets, and food and drink, with the potential earnings from a full Test match — over 10m pounds for the Manchester game — far in excess of what a pair of T20s could generate,” the report added.
However, it may also depend on whether the various broadcasters, who had paid 25 million pounds for the rights to the fifth and final Test at Old Trafford, would be willing to settle for two days of cricket rather than five full days.
Earlier, reports had suggested that the ECB has reportedly written a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC), urging it to decide the fate of the cancelled fifth Test against India at Old Trafford.
The ECB has meanwhile, hinted that it was writing to the global body as the two boards are far from reaching a settlement on the matter.
The ECB wants the ICC’s Dispute Resolution Committee to resolve the issue beside expecting that a forfeiture would be granted so that they can claim insurance as it will possibly suffer a loff aroun 40 million pound if the match is declared abandoned due to Covid-19.
Notably, if the global body declares the fifth and final Test as abandoned, India will win the series 2-1 but if England get a forfeiture as per the DRC ruling, it will be a 2-2 verdict and the host nation can also claim insurance.
On the other hand, if the issue comes in favour of India, ECB will most likley stands to incur huge losses as most of the 40 million pound is not covered under Covid insurance.
Earlier, the series-deciding fifth and final Test in Manchester’s Olf Trafford was called-off after a Covid outbreak in the Indian camp due to which the visitors were unable to field a team.
Issuing a statement, the ECB had said: “Following ongoing conversations with the BCCI, the ECB can confirm that the fifth LV= Insurance Test between England and India Men due to start today at Emirates Old Trafford, will be canceled.”
“Due to fears of a further increase in the number of COVID cases inside the camp, India are unable to field a team and will instead regrettably forfeit the match. We send our sincere apologies to fans and partners for this news, which we know will cause immense disappointment and inconvenience to many. Further information will be shared in due course,” the statement had added.
However, the ICC officials had said that they haven’t received any such mail from the ECB as yet.