The BCCI is set to conduct the remaining matches of IPL 2021 in the UAE after the England tour. The current season of IPL was postponed after 29 matches and 31 matches are yet to be held.
New Delhi. The Cricket Board of India (BCCI) is preparing to hold the remaining matches of IPL 2021 in the UAE. The remaining matches of IPL 2021 can be started from 19 or 20 September, while the final match will be played on 10 October in the UAE. However, it will not be easy for the BCCI to do the remaining matches of the IPL in such a short time. In addition to changing the schedule of Team India, the BCCI will also have to persuade England, Pakistan and Australia Cricket Board. Players from England and Australia are extremely unlikely to participate in the IPL. Ashley Giles, the managing director of the England cricket team, has clearly stated that none of their players will play in the remaining matches of the IPL. On the other hand, Australian players have to play 3 to 4 series before the T20 World Cup, which makes it difficult for its players to go to UAE.
These five series may be overshadowed by IPL
1-Caribbean Premier League (CPL)
The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is to be played this year from 28 August to 19 September. This will obviously affect the availability of West Indies players who are always in demand in the IPL. Players like Kieran Pollard, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sunil Naren, Chris Gayle and Shimron Hetmyer play important roles for their teams. Apart from this, all these cricketers are part of the preferred playing XI for their teams and their availability will directly affect the performance of the team. Apart from this, foreign players like Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir and Chris Morris are also included in CPL this year.
Even if the West Indies Cricket Board tries to help the BCCI by altering the schedule, but they can end the tournament only around 15 September. CPL cannot be started early as West Indies will play series against Pakistan till 24 August.
2- England’s tour of West Indies
Ashley Giles, the managing director of the England cricket team, has clearly said that we will definitely give our players a rest but not to play the IPL. We have decided our schedule and now we want our best players to be ready for the T20 World Cup and Ashes. Players like Oyen Morgan, Ben Stokes, Joffra Archer, Sam Curren, Tom Curren, Jason Roy, Johnny Bairstow, David Malan, Moin Ali, Chris Woakes are unlikely to play as the England team is going to tour Bangladesh. The Test series against India ends on 14 September. The schedule for Bangladesh tour is yet to be decided but it will definitely be in September-October. Mustafizur Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan will also not be able to participate in IPL 2021 if Bangladesh-England series takes place.
3-England tour of Pakistan
In November last year, the England Cricket Board had confirmed that England would visit Pakistan for the first time since 2005. It will definitely be a historic tour as no major country has visited Pakistan after 2009 except for Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. England and Pakistan will play two T20 matches on 14 and 15 October. However, this tour can be postponed because the T20 World Cup can be held in India or UAE during this time. Simply put, if England players want to play IPL, then their tour of Bangladesh and Pakistan will either be less important or will be canceled, which is not a possibility right now.
4- New Zealand-Pakistan Series
New Zealand cricketers usually do not have a busy international schedule. They can be expected to be available for the IPL. But if the Future Tour Program (FTP) is kept in mind, then the Kiwi team will also have to face Pakistan for the limited overs series. Both the teams will face each other in three ODIs and as many T20 Internationals. In the IPL, big players like New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Seifert, James Neesham, Trent Boult. The schedule of this tour has not been finalized. It is still unclear whether New Zealand will tour Pakistan or the series will be played in the United Arab Emirates. Apart from this, New Zealand is also going to tour India, but recently it was reported that it has been canceled due to the pandemic in the country and to hold the IPL.
5-Pakistan-Afghanistan Series
The epidemic has affected less cricket-playing countries like Afghanistan and Ireland. Afghanistan wants to host Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates for the limited overs series in September. This will definitely match the current temporary program of the IPL. Two of Afghanistan’s biggest players Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi are part of Sunrisers Hyderabad. In view of all these challenges, the BCCI will have to work hard to get the IPL.
