LONDON, July 6: The upcoming Test series between India and England is set to be played in front of capacity crowds after the UK government announced the lifting of all COVID-19 restrictions on gathering of people.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday confirmed that all legal COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, including the mandatory wearing of face masks and limit on crowd at indoor, outdoor and sports events, will come to an end on July 19.
“We will remove all legal limits on the numbers of meeting indoors and outdoors,” Johnson was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
“We will allow all businesses to reopen, including nightclubs. We will lift the limit on number of visitors to care homes and number of people attending concerts, theatres and sports events,” he added.
“We will move away from legal restrictions and allow people to make their own informed decisions about how to manage the virus.”
The five-Test series between India and England starts at Nottingham on August 4. Currently, the Indian players are on a break.
The World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand was played in front a limited crowd at Southampton last month with the upper attendance limit capped at 4,000.
Kohli and team to get
vaccinated on Wednesday
Indian cricketers, who are in the UK for a five-Test series, will continue their 20-day break as of now and few of them will receive their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday.
The full vaccination of Indian players has become all the more important after multiple virus cases were detected in England’s ODI camp.
The Indian players are set to re-assemble in London on July 14 and proceed to Durham for a two-week training cum first-class game against Select County XI.
Once the players assemble in London, they are expected to be tested again and then allowed to enter the bio-bubble. (PTI)
