The coronavirus pandemic brought a halt to the cricketing activities around the world, but England opened the doors of cricketing action by inviting West Indies for a three-match Test series. The English men cricket team is also supposed to play against Ireland as well as Pakistan in coming days.
However, the beginning of cricketing action in Women’s cricket might have to wait as India women cricket team will not be travelling to England for the ODI tri-series due to coronavirus restrictions.
This tour was initially scheduled for June and July, but those matches were postponed when lockdown restrictions were levied due to the global pandemic. Now, as per SkySports, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is finalising plans for an extended bilateral series against South Africa, who are due to arrive later this summer.
As per ECB, it will ensure England play the same number of games as they were expected had India not cancelled their tour. It will eventually make up for India’s absence.
“We can confirm that India will not be travelling for the upcoming series as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said an ECB spokesperson.
“We remain fully committed to playing international women’s cricket this summer and are looking to extend the proposed bilateral series against South Africa. We will hopefully have an update on this shortly,” the spokesperson added.
It is also informed that England Women will use Derbyshire’s Incora County Ground as their base for training and playing all matches at the venue.
The ECB has confirmed that Heather Knight’s team will play all games with bio-secure training camps. It also means that the county will play its matches away from home this summer.
Currently, Pakistan have been using the venue as part of their preparations ahead of their men’s team’s three-match Test series against England which is scheduled to take place in August.
“England’s international fixtures are massively important to the whole game at all levels, and we are pleased to have been chosen to host these high-profile training camps and matches this summer. The Incora County Ground has developed into a prominent venue for international cricket, including hosting the ICC Women’s World Cup in 2017 and most recently a bio-secure training camp for the touring Pakistan squad,” said Derbyshire chief executive Ryan Duckett as quoted by The Cricketer.
“This means that Derbyshire will play all matches away from home once the domestic season starts, and this decision has been made with the full support of our coaching and playing staff,” he added.
