English cricket summer could be affected by India's move to UK government 'red list'

India's men are due to take part in the World Test Championship against New Zealand and a five-match Test series against England later this summer, while the women's side are set to feature in a multi-format series, starting with a solitary Test

The placement of India on the UK government's travel 'red list' of red countries could have an impact on the English cricket summer.

From April 23, only those with British and Irish passports or residency rights will be allowed to enter the UK from India.

Although special exemptions exist from those entry requirements for elite sportspeople, cricketers arriving in the UK will be required to undertake a strict 10-day quarantine period in an approved hotel.

India's men are due to take part in the World Test Championship against New Zealand and a five-match Test series against England later this summer, while the women's side are set to feature in a multi-format series, starting with a solitary Test in Bristol in mid-June. 

Given the tightness of the calendar - the Indian Premier League final is scheduled for May 30 - there will be legitimate concerns over the logistics of getting a full India men's squad over and through isolation periods, where access to training facilities will not be possible, to give them enough practice time before the World Test Championship final from June 18.

The WTC final's staging at the Ageas Bowl, which became a self-contained bio-secure bubble to allow the ECB to stage its full allocation of senior men's fixtures last summer, may help the ICC in ensuring the event can go ahead while abiding by government quarantine restrictions.

On Monday evening, the international governing body confirmed it is in discussions with UK government.

A statement from the ICC read: "The ECB and other Members have demonstrated how we can stage international cricket safely in the middle of a pandemic and we are confident that we can continue to do that and that the World Test Championship Final will go ahead as planned in June in the UK."

The Guardian reports that the match may receive an "event of national significance" exemption to further help the logistics.

^{Virat Kohli is due to bring his India side to England for five Tests in August and September}

English players involved in the Indian Premier League are unlikely, however, to be able to be considered for selection for the two Tests against New Zealand in early June.

The ECB were already prepared for several key members of the Test XI - including Jofra Archer and Jos Buttler - to miss the matches in order to stay with their franchises through to the IPL's conclusion.

However, the movement of India to the red list could also rule out the likes of Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow and Sam Curran, with the regular IPL season not due to end until May 23. 

In the event the players returned immediately, they would be required to be in isolation at approved accommodation until at least June 3 and would be required to return two negative Covid-19 tests on days two and eight of their quarantine. 

New Zealand also face being hit by the change of rules, with Kane Williamson, Trent Boult and Mitchell Santner - all of whom have been named in the Black Caps' 20-man squad for the trip - set to face quarantine following their time in the IPL.

India's men are not due to begin their Test tour of England until early August, and would therefore face either remaining in the UK for an extra month after the World Test Championship, or face a second 10-day isolation period on their return. 

The women are due to follow their Test in Bristol with three ODIs and three T20s across various county grounds in the south and Midlands.

India has seen 200,000 new coronavirus cases since April 15, while a Covid-19 variant - which is reported to be more virilent and infectious than many of those in circulation in the UK - has also been identified in the country.

The capital Delhi has announced a week-long lockdown after a spike in cases put the city's healthcare network under major strain.

Pakistan, which is also on the UK red list, is due to send a white-ball squad for series in July. 

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