The Indian cricket team which is currently in England for the upcoming five-match Test series against England will only get to play two intra-squad games at the Riverside ground in Durham to prepare for the Test series against England.
The side led by Virat Kohli is unlikely to get any first-class warm-up matches against county sides which is expected to hamper their preparations. Kohli has also expressed his disappointment at not having first-class games before the series against England. The first Test will commence in Nottingham from August 4.
“Due to COVID-19 protocols, they will play two intra-squad four-day matches before the first Test in August," an ECB spokesperson was quoted as saying by PTI on Friday. It is learnt that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) request ECB for a few practice games but the prevailing COVID-19 crisis won’t allow such plans to go ahead.
When asked if there is any chance of organising practice games against county sides the ECB spokesperson said, “No”. Across the various counties in England, players are being regularly tested for COVID but are not kept in any bubble. Meanwhile, the Indian team will assemble in London on 14th July before moving to Durham where they will again enter the bubble.
“The domestic cricketers of England not being in a bubble is an issue for sure. That’s why the games in Durham will be intra-squad ones," a BCCI official said on conditions of anonymity. The Indian side is currently travelling with 24 players with 20 in the official squad and four in the reserve list which will allow them to play intra-squad games.