The IPL was suspended on 4 May amid an outbreak of Covid-19 among the franchises. The T20 World Cup starting in mid‑October means any restarted IPL campaign – most likely held in the United Arab Emirates – would have to come first. But India’s five‑Test series in England does not finish until 14 September in Manchester, which would disrupt such a plan. England do have a two-week gap after the third T20 against Pakistan on 20 July. But dropping a Test into this window would have huge knock-on effects – not least in terms of angering supporters, with the first three days of the Old Trafford Test sold out following a year without crowds.

Source: The Guardian May 20, 2021 19:18 UTC