IPL 2021: The 14th edition of the Indian Premier League was recently suspended mid-way because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation in India. The decision came after several cricketers from CSK, KKR, and SRH had tested positive despite living within a strong bio-bubble.
Now one possible window for the postponed IPL 2021 is before the upcoming T20 World Cup in October however, there are some other issues that have risen as England and New Zealand cricketers are unlikely to participate in the rest of the tournament.
England cricket team is due to tour Bangladesh and Pakistan during that period. Recently, in an interview, England’s men director of cricket Ashley Giles revealed that they have got a full FTP schedule ahead and the players won’t skip playing for the country for any franchise cricket. He said:
“We are planning on the involvement of England players in England matches. We have got a full FTP schedule set up for our team. So if those tours to Pakistan and to Bangladesh are coinciding [in September and October], they will be going ahead. I would expect the players to be there and playing.”
“The New Zealand scenario was very different,” said Giles. “Those matches were formalised at the end of January, by which time contracts were signed for players to have full involvement in the IPL.”
“None of us knows what a rearranged IPL schedule could possibly look like when it is released. We do not know where it is going to be or when. When we start this summer against New Zealand, our programme is incredibly busy. We have got a lot of important, high-profile cricket including the T20 World Cup, along with the Ashes. We are going to have to look after our players for the remainder of the current campaign.”
Earlier in an interview, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had made a strong statement about the remaining season of the IPL 2021. He had said that the remaining IPL 2021 season can’t happen in India due to some issues. He also went on to talk about future tournaments. He had said:
“No. India is actually supposed to go on a tour to Sri Lanka for a series. We will be playing three ODIs and five T20Is. There are lots of organizational hazards like the 14-day quarantine that is a must. It just can not happen in India anymore. This quarantine is just too tough to handle. Too early to say how we can find a slot to complete the IPL 2021 this year.”
