Manoj Badale, the owner of Rajasthan Royals on Thursday revealed that rescheduling the rest of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 matches will be a real challenge as most teams have already set for their upcoming international series. Notably, the IPL 2021 season was suspended on May 4 after several players got infected in the bio-bubble due to COVID-19. However, before the suspension, Rajasthan Royals was placed at the fifth position with 6 points from 7 games as well.
“I think the challenge is just finding space and calendar. The players are already playing too much cricket. The calendars are incredibly packed, and particularly this year after COVID-19, boards from around the world are trying to get as many competitions and as many Test matches in as possible,” said Badale in a webinar organised by Rajasthan Royals.
“I think it’s going to be a real challenge. There’s a possibility. I think it’s a small possibility of something in September in the UK or possibly something in the Middle East, either side of the T20 World Cup, but I think it’s going to be a real challenge,” he further added.
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Earlier, Ashley Giles, the managing director of the England men’s cricket team, has also stated that the England players might not be available for the rest of the IPL games if it is rescheduled and take place later this year.
“We’ve got a full FTP schedule. So if those tours to Pakistan and Bangladesh [in September and October] are going ahead, I’d expect the players to be there,” ESPNcricinfo had quoted Giles as saying. “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.”
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However, Giles said that the England team has a busy schedule for the summer and the management wants to look after the players as well. Notably, India and England will take on each other in the five-match Test series in the UK after the final of the World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand. The series will take place in August.
