Post COVID cricket in India to resume in FEB 2021 vs England

Mumbai:BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has said that India will fulfill its Future Tours Programme (FTP) commitments and host England in February, before the IPL season in 2021. 

In a letter to the board's state associations, Ganguly mentioned that the planning for the senior men's team was in line with FTP commitments while plans for the women's team and domestic cricket were still under consideration.

"The senior Indian men's team will travel to Australia for its series starting in December this year and will come back to the country for a series against England starting from February next year," ESPNcricinfo quoted Ganguly as saying.

"This will be followed by IPL 2021 in April. The tours of the senior Indian women's teams are also under discussion and more details will be shared shortly,'' he added.

In the letter, Ganguly also assured all state associations that domestic cricket will start once the coronavirus crisis in the nation is in control. However, he did not specify the date from when the season will kick-off.

Earlier this month, the BCCI had drawn up a tentative schedule for the domestic season. In that plan, there was a truncated domestic season consisting only of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament and the Ranji Trophy for men, starting from November 19, and a Women's T20 League to begin from November 1. 

But in the letter, there is clear indication that the Board is yet to lock in a date."In the domestic cricket context, we are currently in the off season and the BCCI is making all efforts to ensure that domestic cricket resumes as and when the conditions permit," The health and safety of players and all other involved in domestic cricket is of utmost importance to BCCI and we are constantly monitoring all aspects," Ganguly wrote in the letter to presidents and secretaries of its affiliated member associations.

''All members will be duly informed about the future course of action and suggestions will be taken before we resume domestic cricket,'' he added.The BCCI president also said that he was hopeful that the Covid-19 situation will improve in the next few months and domestic cricket will be able to start in a safe environment.(UNI)