(Reuters) – The International Cricket Council (ICC) is confident that the Indian team will be allowed to travel to England this summer despite the country’s addition to Britain’s ‘red list’ of places where most travel is banned due to the high incidence of COVID-19.
British health minister Matt Hancock said yesterday that most people who have traveled to India in the last 10 days will be barred from entering the UK from Friday.
Residents of Britain or Ireland, or those with UK residence rights, are allowed to enter quarantine at a hotel at their own expense for 10 days.
India is expected to play in the final of the World Test Championship against New Zealand in June and a five-Test series against England starting in August.
“We are currently discussing with the UK Government the impact of countries on the ‘red list’,” the ICC said in a statement.
“The ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) and other members have shown how we can safely host international cricket in the midst of a pandemic and we are confident that we can continue to do so and that the World Test Championship Final will go ahead as planned. was planned in June in the UK. ”
Pakistan, also on the UK red list, is also due to tour England to play international one-day series and Twenty20 series starting in July.
England achieved their entire home schedule in 2020, hosting matches against the West Indies, Pakistan, Ireland and Australia as all players followed strict biosecurity protocols, including extended quarantine periods.
“By working together, we showed how we can safely stage international cricket in the midst of a pandemic and hope to be able to do it again this year,” said an ECB spokesman.