As the global pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the international cricket calendar, England's limited-overs tour of India is the latest to be postponed. The England Cricket Board (ECB) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that the series will now be held some time in early 2021.
As part of the ICC Future Tours Programme, England were set to tour India in September to play three T20Is and three ODIs before returning in January 2021 for a five-match Test series.
The news come on the heels of the announcement that the 2020 Indian T20 League tournament will have to be held in the UAE between September 19-November 10 in light of the steep escalation of virus cases in India.
The T20 World Cup which was to be held in Australia this year, was also pushed back, with it now marked for October 18-November 15 next year.
ECB CEO Tom Harrison said, "International cricket between India and England is a highlight of the cricketing calendar and we look forward to working with the BCCI to firm-up the schedules for these eagerly anticipated tours as soon as possible."
One of the solutions being considered by the two boards is the conversion of the 2021 schedule into an all-format tour that could see England playing in India from January to March, while India are scheduled to tour England next summer.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah said, "I am pleased with the way BCCI and ECB have managed the situation. The rescheduled tour is also being redesigned in a way to accommodate both red and white-ball format and will now be a comprehensive one."
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Lindsey Parnaby
