ECB chalking out plans to arrange tour games for India - Reports

India were initially supposed to play two games against India A and few more games against County oppositions ahead of the England series but that was shelved by the ECB later to account for the logistical challenges posed by the pandemic. However, after the World Test Championship final in Southampton, Indian skipper Virat Kohli, in no uncertain terms, asked for first-games to facilitate the preparations, and it seems like the ECB have decided to accede to the demand. 

According to a report on Cricbuzz, following Jay Shah's direct call to ECB chairman Ian Whatmore and CEO Tom Harrison, the board is looking into the possibility of arranging a game against a select County XI in Durham. 

"We are aware of a request from the BCCI to play a three-day warm-up match against a County Select XI as part of the Indian Men's Test team's build-up to the five-match Test series. We are working through the operations and COVID-19 protocols to ensure we are able to deliver this and will confirm in due course," an ECB spokesman said.

Currently, the Indian Test team is on a break following the World Test Championship final and many of them are watching various sporting events like Euros and Wimbledon. They are set to assemble in Durham on July 14 as the Emirates Riverside Stadium will be their base till August 1. Nottingham will host the first Test of the five-match series from August 4.