Xtra Time Web Desk: Good news for IPL franchises as the South African cricketers are likely to be available for the opening games of their respective teams in IPL 2021 season. As per reports in Cricinfo, the Proteas cricketers will be allowed to leave Pakistan after playing the second ODI of the series on April 04. Quinton de Kock led South African ODI side are scheduled to play three ODIs and four T20Is again Pakistan starting April 2.
It is learnt that the franchises are trying to arrange a chartered flight to pick the IPL bound South African cricketers so that they don’t miss their team’s opening games. The likes of Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje (both Delhi Capitals), Quinton de Kock (Mumbai Indians), David Miller (Rajasthan Royals) and pacer Lungi Ngidi (Chennai Super Kings) are expected to be part of the group travelling straight from the Pakistan series into the IPL.
According to BCCI guidelines, team members do not need to do the mandatory seven-day quarantine in their hotel rooms if they are moving between biosecure team bubbles via chartered flights. If players take commercial flights, then they will need to undergo quarantine before they can link up with those already in the IPL bubble.
The IPL 2021 season begins on April 9, with the defending champions Mumbai Indians taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore in Chennai.