Following the unexpected cancellation of the fifth and the final Test between England and India in Manchester on Friday, former England skipper Kevin Pietersen has asked whether the players will be available for the first game of the second phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 resumes in the UAE on September 19.

Taking to Twitter, Kevin Pietersen wrote, “So England v India TEST is CANCELLED due to Covid!!!! WOW!!!! Wow!!! Wow!!! Does it mean with 9 days till CSK v MI in Dubai, NO player from each team that’s in the UK will be available if they now have 10 days of quarantining in UK?”

https://twitter.com/KP24/status/1436238996758204416?s=20

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan said Team India has let English cricket down. He tweeted, “India have let English Cricket down !!! But England did let South African Cricket down.”

India have let English Cricket down !!! But England did let South African Cricket down !!!

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) September 10, 2021

The fifth and final Test between India and England has been canceled due to a “further increase in the number of COVID cases” inside the Indian camp.

ALSO READ: BCCI Vice President Confirms, There Was No Chance Of Forfeiting The Test

In a statement confirming the same, the ECB wrote: “Following ongoing conversations with the BCCI, the ECB can confirm that the fifth LV= Insurance Test between England and India Men due to start today at Emirates Old Trafford, will be canceled.’

On the eve of the fifth and final Test against England, the Indian physio Yogesh Parmar tested positive for COVID-19 in Manchester. This had led to the cancellation of Team India’s training session for Thursday afternoon.

ALSO READ: Josh Hazlewood Joins The CSK Squad For The Second Phase Of The IPL 2021

However, there were no COVID-19 related worries in the England camp and Jos Buttler had said everything is fine and the hosts were looking forward to the game before the match was canceled on Friday.