England’s tour of India is likely to become the latest cricket series which is set to be delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic. As per the current FTPs (Future tour Program), England cricket team is scheduled to tour India for 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is in September. However, the coronavirus pandemic has been a major source of concern ever since all the sporting activities were forced to a complete shutdown as early as since March 2020.
While gradually, the sporting world is beginning to get back to its feet, the hosting of England vs West Indies Test series 2020 offers a glimmer of hope even to the entire cricketing fraternity. It was a courageous decision for the England cricket board (ECB) to resume their already delayed peak-season in summer when they invited West Indies for a 3-match Test series being played in a bio-secure bubble.
However, England's tour of India 2020 in September might still face the axe as India might ponder over hosting the Indian Premier League (IPL) later in the same month.
England tour of India 2020 expected to be suspended
England cricket team is scheduled to feature in a limited-over series to be played in India, starting September 16. However, as per a report in the Daily Mail, ECB is set to suspend the national team's tour to India in September. The report points out the fact that regards BCCI's intention of possibly hosting the next edition of the Indian Premier League in the last week of September.
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As a result, it might see the bilateral series between the top two cricketing nations being postponed amid COVID-19 concerns. The decision to host IPL 2020 depends on the staging of T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia. While Cricket Australia (CA) has expressed its denial over hosting the tournament in 2020, ICC has still not issued formal instructions upon the possibility of the tournament.
The cancellation of T20 World Cup will allow BCCI with a window of nearly a month or more to host the IPL 2020 and could possibly see the players from various corners of the globe featuring in the league.
