While the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) cited the prevailing COVID-19 conditions in India, the tour would also have clashed with the revised dates of the Indian Premier League that is scheduled for Sept. 19-Nov. 10 in the United Arab Emirates.

The IPL was due to be staged earlier in the year but was postponed due to COVID-19, taking up a slot vacated by the shift of the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia to next year. The ECB is now in discussions for a tour that will include fixtures in all three formats from late January to late March next year.

“International cricket between India and England is a highlight of the cricketing calendar and we look forward to working with the BCCI to firm-up the schedules for these eagerly anticipated tours as soon as possible,” ECB chief executive Tom Harrison said in a media release.

Jay Shah, honorary secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said they were thankful for the co-operation of the ECB that allows the IPL to go ahead unhindered.