International tour matches pulled as English summer is reduced

India, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Pakistan's warm-up games have been pulled with all four touring sides now staging intra-squad games instead

England men's cricket fixtures - summer 2021: Full schedule and dates

India, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have had their warm-up schedule ahead of facing England scaled back due to safety concerns.

Intra-squad matches will replace the tour matches that had originally been in the pipeline to ensure the ECB can "focus on delivering the safest possible environment".

The ECB and BCCI have agreed to postpone the India A tour pencilled in for this summer.

The second string were due to face Virat Kohli's side in two warm-up four-day games at Northamptonshire's Wantage Road (July 21-24) and Grace Road, home of Leicestershire (July 28-31).

India A had also been due to face Derbyshire (June 27-30), Essex (July 4-7) and a First-Class Counties Select XI - but all matches have been pulled.

Instead, the India senior team will take an expanded squad for the five-Test series against England and play two intra-squad games as preparation. The venues for those games will be confirmed in due course.

Furthermore, the tune-up matches scheduled by New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Pakistan against county opposition have been cancelled.

The Kiwis were due to take on last season's Bob Willis Trophy runners-up Somerset in a four-day game (May 25-28) before their two Tests against Joe Root's team at Lord's and Edgbaston in June and the World Test Championship final with India at The Ageas Bowl (June 18-22).

Sri Lanka had agreed to 50-over and T20 warm-ups against Kent (June 18) and Sussex (June 20) before their white-ball games, while Pakistan had been intended to face Northamptonshire (July 2) and Worcestershire (July 4).

Like India, all three teams will now stage intra-squad friendlies to ensure they are ready for their respective series.

The news is another blow to the counties on the lower rung of the circuit.

^{Derbyshire's Incora County Ground was due to host India A this summer}

Already without international status, any matches in The Hundred and down on revenue from playing all matches in 2020 behind closed doors, this is another blow to their predicted revenues. As per the government roadmap, all of the matches could have been played in front of at least a partial crowd.

ECB chief executive Tom Harrison said: "We are looking forward to staging a memorable summer of men’s and women’s international cricket when fans are set to return to venues.

"Ensuring the safest possible environment for international cricket is our first priority and we are appreciative for the understanding of our fellow boards.

"We look forward to welcoming a men’s India A tour at a later date after this summer and when restrictions have eased. 

"It will provide a valuable opportunity for players from both countries to experience high-quality cricket and to showcase the talent within our England Lions team and first-class counties."

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