India Women unable to travel for England tour due to Covid-19

NICK FRIEND: A series between the two nations had initially been planned for June but it was pushed back due to the coronavirus pandemic in the hope that it could be revived

India Women will no longer travel to England in September for their rearranged tour.

A series between the two nations had initially been planned for June but it was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic in the hope that it could be revived and rescheduled for later in the summer.

It had then been hoped that England, India and South Africa – three of the four semi-finalists in this year’s T20 World Cup – would then be able to face each other in a tri-series at the back end of the summer.

However, as a result of India’s Covid-19 situation, The Cricketer understands that the Indian side are now unable to leave India and travel to the United Kingdom.

South Africa were already scheduled to travel for a series in September before the coronavirus outbreak, with two T20Is and four ODIs planned.

The Cricketer also understands that efforts will now be made to extend that proposed bilateral series in order to maximise playing opportunities.

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The ECB has reaffirmed its commitment to the women’s game through recent months.

The identities of 25 players being awarded summer retainer contracts were revealed in late June; those deals will become full-time professional domestic contracts in October, along with 15 others, taking the total to 40 – as was outlined when the national governing body first announced their investment plans in the women’s game in October last year.

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