England players might not feature if IPL 2021 resumes, says Ashley Giles
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Ashley Giles
In what could be huge news for certain franchises, players of the England national team might not feature in the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) season if it resumes in September. This is because of the fact that the team has international matches are likely to be prioritized scheduled in the month which is touted to be the probable window for resumption of the now-suspended tournament.
The IPL 2021 was suspended indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic breaching the teams’ bio-bubbles. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) therefore, decided that the right thing to do was to stop the tournament and get the players back home safely. They have done a commendable job so far as a huge chunk of the players have left for home, with the exception of the Australians and a few others who are in Maldives at the moment.
There is no resumption in sight for the IPL at the moment, but sources have stated that September would be the likely date for resumption as the Indian team does not have commitments then and further, it would serve as great practice for the ICC T20 World Cup which would follow.
Ashley Giles hints at unavailability of English players
England’s Director of Cricket Ashley Giles addressed the press today about the possible resumption of the IPL and England players’ availability, “We’re planning on the involvement of England players in England matches. So if those tours to Pakistan and Bangladesh are going ahead, I’d expect the players to be there. The New Zealand scenario was very different. Those Test matches were formalised at the end of January, by which time all those contracts and NOCs were signed for full involvement in the IPL,” Giles said
The tours that Giles was referring to was a planned white ball tour of Bangladesh comprising of six matches as well as another one to Pakistan. “None of us knows what a rearranged IPL looks like at the moment; where it’s going to be or when. But from when we start this summer against New Zealand, our programme is incredibly busy. We’ve got a lot of important, high-profile cricket including the T20 World Cup and the Ashes. And we’re going to have to look after our players,” Giles added.
If English players are unavailable for the remainder of IPL 2021, it would be a huge blow for certain sides. Kolkata Knight Riders will be without their captain Eoin Morgan, Sunrisers Hyderabad without ace batsmen Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy, Chennai Super Kings without all-rounders Moeen Ali and Sam Curran, Punjab Kings without Dawid Malan and Chris Jordan, Rajasthan Royals without four members in Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Liam Livingstone and Jofra Archer and Delhi Captals without Tom Curran, Chris Woakes and Sam Billings,
Also Read: Parthiv Patel claims Moeen Ali to be the game-changer for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2021
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Nevin Clinton
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