Gavaskar reminds England's gesture in 2008, welcomes rescheduling

Former Indian captain and legendry criketer Sunil Gavaskar on Friday welcomed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) offer of rescheduling the cancelled 5th Test in Manchester, saying it's important not to forget England's gesture in 2008 after the terror attacks at a Mumbai hotel. The Manchester test was called off hours before the scheduled start of play on September 10 due to Covid-19 fears in the Indian camp after their assistant physio Yogesh Parmar tested positive for the virus on Thursday. While England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said India were not able to field a team. the BCCI, in a statement, said it is offering a rescheduling of the cancelled Test and both the boards will work towards finding a window for the series finale. India were leading the 5-Test series 2-1.

Gavaskar, speaking to Sony Sports, reminded the event when the England had returned for a test series after the last two ODIs of a 7-match series was cancelled after the horrific terror attack in Mumbai on November 26.2008. England were playing a One-Day International (ODI) against India in Cuttack on November 26, the day the attacks started. The cancellation off the last 2 ODIs cast a doubt over the following two-match Test series as England headed home. However, England returned to play the 2-Test series which was initially scheduled to be held in Ahmedabad and Mumbai. The venues were changed to Ahmedabad and Chennai and India defeated a Kevin Pietersen-led side 1-0.