Sourav Ganguly unsure of the Manchester Test going ahead

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly says that he is unsure if the fifth and final Test between England and India, scheduled to be be played from Friday (September 10) will go ahead as planned. This after assistant physio Yogesh Parmar became the latest member of India's backroom staff to test positive for Covid-19.

"We don't know if the match will happen at the moment. Hopefully, we can get some game," said Ganguly at the book launch of 'Mission Domination' in Kolkata.

India are already without their head coach Ravi Shastri, bowling coach Bharat Arun and also fielding coach R Sridhar, who tested positive for Coronavirus during the fourth Test at The Oval. As a result, batting coach Vikram Rathour was due to take charge of the team in the final Test.

The RT-PCR test reports of the players are still awaited.

Parmar testing positive also leaves the team without a physio with the main physio Nitin Patel already in isolation after Shastri contracted the virus during the Oval Test.

It is learnt that the BCCI has asked England and Wales Cricket Board to spare a physio. "The results of the RT-PCR tests (of players) are expected later in the day depending on which the fate of the game will be decided," said a BCCI source.

The players have been told to remain in their respective rooms as RT-PCR testing is being carried out. All the players and the support staff are fully vaccinated but both teams are not operating in strict bio-bubbles with life in UK almost back to normal.

Shastri is likely to have got the symptoms after attending the launch of his book in the team hotel where outside guests were also allowed. Arun, Patel and Sridhar attended that function in person.

India lead the five-match series 2-1.

(With inputs from PTI)