ICC confident India allowed to tour of England, COVID ‘red list’

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is confident that the World Test Championship will go ahead as planned in Southampton despite the UK government adding India to its travel ‘red list’ on Monday.

British health minister Matt Hancock said on Monday most people who have traveled to India in the last 10 days will be banned from entering the UK from Friday.

The ECB and other members have demonstrated how we can stage international cricket safely in the middle of a pandemic. We are confident that. We can continue to do that. The World Test Championship final will go ahead as planned in June in the UK,” the ICC said.

India is scheduled to play in the World Test Championship final against New Zealand in June and a five-test series against England starting in August.

“We are currently discussing with the UK Government the impact of countries being on the ‘red list’,” the ICC said in a statement.

The girls’ group for the tour of England will even be picked. Both groups will journey collectively.

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Pakistan, which is also on UK’s red list. Pakistan is also a scheduled tour of England. The one-day international and Twenty20 series starting July.

England was able to fulfill its entire home schedule in 2020. Hosting matches against West Indies, Pakistan, Ireland, and Australia as all players followed strict bio-secure protocols, including extended quarantine periods.

“By working collaboratively. We demonstrated how we can stage international cricket safely in the middle of a pandemic. Hope to be able to do so again this year,” an ECB spokesperson said.

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