Final Test between England and India cancelled

 Some of the Indian players expressed concerns about taking the field after assistant physiotherapist Yogesh Parmar tested positive

The fifth and final Test between England and India in Manchester, scheduled to start on Friday (October 10), has been cancelled after some of the Indian players expressed concerns about taking the field after assistant physiotherapist Yogesh Parmar tested positive for COVID-19.

The ECB initially announced that India had "forfeited" the Test, but later changed it to "India are regrettably unable to field a team".

"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 cancelled," the England and Wales Cricket Board said in their statement.

"Due to fears of a further increase in the number of COVID cases inside the camp, India are regrettably unable to field a team. We send our sincere apologies to fans and partners for this news, which we know will cause immense disappointment and inconvenience to many." 

India were leading the five-match series 2-1 going into the final Test in Manchester. There's still no update regarding the series result. If India have "forfeited" the Test, the result will go in England's favour. However, the World Test Championship (WTC) playing conditions say that a COVID outbreak within a team is an acceptable reason for a match to be abandoned.

After Parmar tested positive, India were forced to cancel their practice session ahead of the fifth Test. The players were asked to isolate and not to step out of their rooms till the RT-PCR tests turn up negative. 

The players tested negative but with the 96-hour incubation period also factored in, they didn't want to risk testing positive and ending in a 10-day quarantine.

Three of India's coaching staff including head coach Ravi Shastri had tested positive for Covid-19 during the Oval Test and as a result, they did not travel to Manchester with the team. 

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Final Test between England and India cancelled

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