The abandonment of the fifth and final Test between England and India at Old Trafford has been in the news for the past two days.

While England fans and their former cricketers are claiming that the upcoming UAE-leg of IPL 2021 played a part in the cancellation, BCCI has maintained that the call was taken after a fresh COVID-19 case in the Indian camp.

Notably, assistant physio Yogesh Parmar contracted the virus on the eve of the Old Trafford Test, due to begin on September 10. Earlier, senior physio Nitin Patel had returned positive during the fourth Test alongside head coach Ravi Shastri and two other support staff members.

Reacting to the development, former England captain Michael Vaughan on Saturday (September 11) took to Twitter and pointed out the coincidence between the IPL franchises flying their players from Manchester to UAE for a six day quarantine before the start of the remaining IPL 2021.

“IPL teams chartering planes .. 6 days quarantining required in the UAE .. 7 days till the tournament starts !!!! Don’t tell me the Test was cancelled for any other reason but the IPL ..,” Vaughan tweeted.

In reply, former India cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra reminded Vaughan how England were quick to call off their South Africa series last year.

“England called off their tour to SA in similar circumstances i.e. Uneasiness over a COVID outbreak. #JustSaying,” Chopra wrote.

Vaughan responded to Chopra, saying, "And I didn’t agree with that then as I don’t agree with what India have done now …"

After the match was called off, the BCCI, in its statement, talked about an offer made to reschedule the cancelled Test.

“In lieu of the strong relationship between BCCI and ECB, the BCCI has offered to ECB a rescheduling of the cancelled Test match. Both the Boards will work towards finding a window to reschedule this Test match,” the Indian board.

However, ECB CEO Tom Harrison has made it clear that the proposed rescheduling would be a one-off game rather than a decider for the series.

“No, I think it’s a stand-alone situation. We have been offered a few other options, probably need to take a look (at those),” Harrison told ‘Sky Sports’ when asked whether it would be a stand-alone game or the series-decider.

“The glass half full version of it is that the prospects of playing a one-off Test match against India as a focal point on this ground, let’s try to deliver on that. It can be the only good news that comes out of a day like today,” he added.