Full refund available for England-India tickets, says Lancashire chief executive

The fifth Test, which was due to start at Emirates Old Trafford on September 10, was cancelled due to Covid-19 fears in India’s camp

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Lancashire’s chief executive, Daniel Gidney, has voiced his disappointment at the cancellation of the Test match between England and India, which was due to be start at Emirates Old Trafford on September 10, and has promised fans a full refund of their match tickets.

The Test, which was to be the decider in a five-match series between the two sides, was thrown into doubt on September 9 when Indian physiotherapist, Yogesh Parmar, tested positive for Covid-19.

India’s playing squad all returned negative PCR tests on Thursday evening but due to concerns in the squad about the possibility of a wider outbreak, the match was cancelled on Friday morning.

Lancashire have not yet revealed exactly how much the cancellation will cost them but the first three days of the Test were sold out at £22,000 per day. The club's projected revenue for the year also suggests there will be a multi-million pound gap resulting from the lost match.

Emirates Old Trafford is not due to host a Test match in 2022.

💬Obviously there are significant financial implications and reputational issues as well.💬

Lancashire CEO Daniel Gidney discusses the impact the cancellation of the fifth Test will have on the club.

📺 Watch on Sky Sports Cricket 👉 https://t.co/fk7UysTMen pic.twitter.com/G3c4MJSDqz

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) September 10, 2021

In a statement, Gidney said: "As a club, we are absolutely devastated about the late cancellation of the Test at Emirates Old Trafford.

"We’d like to unreservedly apologise to ticket holders and all those that have or are due to travel to Emirates Old Trafford. A full refund will be issued, but we appreciate for many supporters, attending this Test match is more than just the monetary worth. After the last 18 months we’ve all experienced through the pandemic, it’s a fixture cricket fans in the North West have looked forward to for the best part of 18 months.

"You can’t underestimate the work that goes into preparing for a five-day Test match and I’d like to thank all our supporters, guests, suppliers, partners and all those involved for their continued support. I’d also like to thank all of the amazing staff who work at Emirates Old Trafford who have worked tirelessly to prepare the ground for the Test. We have an incredibly loyal and talented group of people who have worked very long hours in the run up to this game.

"We are working closely with the England and Wales Cricket Board on next steps and the finer detail that will follow as a consequence of this cancellation. In due course, the club will contact ticket and hospitality holders.

"The club would like to once again express it’s sincere apologies for all inconvenience and disruption caused to all involved."

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