The Indian Premier League 2021 got suspended indefinitely after a string of covid positive results arrived from several franchises. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided the inevitable and halted the 14th season of the league midway, leaving everyone in doubts about what lies ahead.
However, as soon as the league got suspended, the board started to search for alternative options. So far, Sri Lanka and UAE threw their hat in the ring to host the remaining games of the season, but England is the frontrunner at this moment to host the games.
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Meanwhile, Ashley Giles, England’s Director of Cricket, has cleared that no England players will be taking part in the remainder of the IPL 2021 keeping the national duties in mind. He cited a full-length FTP program as a reason why England internationals will give the league a miss.
“We are planning on the involvement of England players in England matches. We have got a full FTP schedule. So, if those tours to Pakistan and Bangladesh [in September and October] are going ahead, I would expect the players to be there,” said Giles.
“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 [no objection certificates] were signed for full involvement in the IPL.”
He further added, “None of us knows what a rearranged IPL will possibly look like at the moment; where it is going to be or when. But from when we start this summer against New Zealand, our program is incredibly busy. We have got a lot of important, high-profile cricket including the T20 World Cup and the Ashes. And we are going to have to look after our players.”
Former England player Kevin Pietersen raised his opinion against the voice of Giles on Twitter. He believes if all the England players stand together, they can participate in the remaining season of the IPL 2021.
He tweeted, “It is going to be very interesting to watch how the ECB handle this issue around not allowing its best players to play IPL if it is rescheduled. When I went up against ENG, I was alone. This time, it is all their best-branded players! If they stand together, they will play IPL.”
New Zealand players are also likely to miss the league once it gets rescheduled. This can be a huge blow to several teams in IPL if players from England and New Zealand miss the remaining games.
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The BCCI head Sourav Ganguly has ruled out all the possibilities of India hosting the remaining games keeping the coronavirus situation in mind along with India’s tight schedule in the upcoming months.
He said “No. India is actually supposed to go to Sri Lanka for a series of three ODIs and five T20Is. There are lots of organisational hazards like 14-day quarantine. It cannot happen in India. This quarantine is tough to handle. Too early to say how we can find a slot to complete the IPL.”
