Cricket’s relentless schedule behind cancellation: Nasser Hussain says on Manchester Test
Several former England players, such as Michael Vaughn and Steve Harminson, have accused the Indian Premier League of canceling the fifth and final test between India and England.
However, former England skipper Nasser Hussain has different opinions as he in a column for the Daily Mail, lamented the relentless cricketing schedule behind the reason for the cancellation of the Manchester Test.
“The people I felt most sorry for during Friday’s extra-ordinary turn of events were a group in our game who habitually deserve more respect – the fans – and the villain of the piece was not India but cricket’s relentless schedule,” said Hussain.
“On Friday afternoon, I boarded a train south full of gutted supporters. Hours earlier, some poor bloke from Edinburgh came up to me at the ground and asked me for a photograph. He faced a long journey home.
“Spectators are always the last people we think about. Slow over-rates and going off early for bad light when there are floodlights is one thing. This is quite another.
“Sure, they will get their money back but they will not get to see any action, will not be reimbursed for travel and accommodation and are missing out on what might have been a thrilling conclusion to a fabulous series,” he added.
Hussain admitted that with the second leg of IPL scheduled four days after the fifth Test, made it difficult of postponed the match for a couple of days.
“This was a complete and utter mess. Unfortunately, though, it is where we are in the world of cricket right now due to a packed schedule and the elephant in the room that is the Indian Premier League.
“As soon as Covid got into the tourists’ camp, some of the decision-making was about that tournament, and it is worth remembering that India have always been wary about the positioning of this Test match so close to it,” he said.
