India’s England-Based League Cricketers Could Act as Reserves

Indian players participating in league cricket in the United Kingdom could be called up for practice games.

Faiz Fazal scored a half-century on India debut. 

Photo: AP

Even though India are due to play just the longer format during their three-and-a-half month-long stay in England and travelling with an enlarged squad of 24 players, unlike in Australia, where they played all three formats in a span of two months and travelled with 32 players, they can still face problems with shortage of players.

Given there will be no warm-up matches in England against county teams, India will prepare for the five-Test series with a couple of intra-squad games. They have a preparation window of one-and-a-half-month between the World Test Championship final against New Zealand and the start of the five-Test series against England. The 24-member contingent will only just suffice the need to make two sides for these matches.

"The reason for carrying extra members in the squad is to ensure that India have back-up in case someone gets injured or gets infected with COVID-19, since it will be difficult to call up a player from India. A player called up will have to go through an entire process of quarantine," said an official in the know of things.

While the lead-up to the WTC final against New Zealand may progress smoothly, the almost three-month period after the final will be crucial. If someone were to get injured or sick during the first phase, the entire plan will go haywire.

There are a few Indian players who are already in the United Kingdom playing league cricket who could be called up in such a scenario. Vidarbha captain and former India opener Faiz Fazal, Mumbai’s Siddhesh Lad are among the first-class players who are or will be playing league cricket there. Vidarbha batsman Apoorva Wankhede and Chhattisgarh left-arm Sumit Ruikar are also plying their trade in the UK, among others.

"It will be nice if I get called up to help the India side in any way. I have been travelling to United Kingdom regularly and scoring runs here," Fazal, who has reached Northern Ireland for league cricket after finishing quarantine, told IANS.

Fazal, with 125 first-class games under his belt, slammed a half-century on his Indian debut against Zimbabwe in 2016. However, he has fallen off the selectors’ radar despite leading his state to two Ranji Trophy title triumphs besides scoring decently in domestic cricket.

Lad has featured in 61 first-class matches and is currently playing in the Lancashire league. He has over 4,000 first-class runs to his credit.

"It depends on selectors and the team management if they decide to call up players from the league. The Board can't make a decision on it on its own," a senior board official told IANS.

The selectors could find themselves in a precarious situation if someone gets injured or falls sick. Many of the key Indian team members like Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw will, most likely, be busy in a limited-overs series in Sri Lanka.

"It is impossible to call up players from outside since the bio-bubble is sacrosanct and the Indian team management will be extra careful after what happened in the Indian Premier League. So, whether it is from India or from England-based Indian first-class cricketers playing league, it will be tough to call up players," said the official.

"However, the fact that England is open and movement is free may prompt selectors to consider league cricketers if the team management finds it necessary."