IPL 2021: New Zealand and England players from CSK, MI, RCB and SRH could miss knockout stages of the tournament

IPL 2021: New Zealand and England players from CSK, MI, RCB and SRH could miss knockout stages of the tournament

IPL 3

In what could be a big blow for the IPL franchises before the IPL 2021, players from New Zealand and England could miss the knockout stages of the tournament. The BCCI has granted written permission to international players to leave IPL for their national team’s cricketing commitments.

With this coming to enforcement, South African players will already miss the first match of their sides owing to a series against Pakistan, while England & New Zealand cricketers are likely to miss the IPL 2021 towards the last leg due to a two-match test series starting on 2nd June.

England, New Zealand and South African cricketers constitute majority participation in the cash-rich league. This consent from BCCI gives them a free hand to prefer their play for their national sides over IPL.

This has put the franchises in the worrisome situation as there is no assurance of top foreign cricketers like Kane Williamson (Sunrisers), Ben Stokes (Rajasthan Royals), Jos Butler (RR), Sam Curran and Mitchell Santner(CSK), Kyle Jamieson (RCB), Trent Boult (MI) availability for the last week of IPL 2021.

Dicey participation of overseas players

Ben Stokes

Earlier, it was was was South African cricketers whose availability was doubtful but now there is turbulence concerning the participation of England and New Zealand players as well.

During May-June, the business end of IPL will see the absence of Kiwi and English players as  New Zealand Cricket (NZC) is planning to reach England minimum of two weeks in advance for the test series so that they can comply with the local quarantine norms. Kiwis two-match Test series against England is scheduled to begin on June 2, prior to which visitors’ mandatory quarantine will clash with the last matches of the IPL.

According to the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) norms, England test hopefuls will also be getting in bio-bubble before the test series.

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