ECB hopes ICC considers Coronavirus substitutes ahead of hosting WI
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has asked the ICC to allow Coronavirus player substitutes ahead of its upcoming home Test series against West Indies. The English board is awaiting a go-ahead from the UK government for hosting the West Indies and the Pakistan teams starting in July.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the England and Wales Cricket Board had suspended all cricketing activities nationwide till June 30. However, talks of cricket returning to the country were everywhere as the board started taking measures for the same. Earlier, the ECB announced its plan for biosecure venues and implementing them for hosting cricket. Now, ECB director of events, Steve Elworthy was quoted in British media, on Friday, stating about their plan to have coronavirus substitutes on the resumption of the game.
According to Elworthy, the board is in talks with the ICC to implement the same as the ECB has proposed two venues for the Test series against West Indies starting July 8, Hampshire's Ageas Bowl and Lancashire's Old Trafford.
"I know there are still some considerations from an ICC perspective about a Covid-19 replacement. That still needs to be agreed. This is specifically for Test cricket, and we would hope that would be in place well before the Test series starts in July,” Elworthy told British media, as quoted by TOI.
Meanwhile, Cricket West Indies (CWI) gave its approval on the same, on Friday, for the series in England which was originally scheduled in June. Also, while cricket in England remains suspended until July 1, a group of 55 cricketers have been asked to return to training to prepare for the start of the English summer season.