XtraTime Web Desk: The participation of the South African cricketers in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) season is in serious doubts. Due to the current situation with COVID-19, the entire rainbow nation is under a lockdown. International flights from OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg is not taking off over the last few months due to the situation.
Due to the closure of international borders the participation of few Proteas cricketers like Imran Tahir, Anrich Nortje and Colin Ingram in the Caribbean League is also in serious doubts. The CPL is scheduled to start from August 18 in Trinidad. If the situation is not improved over the next few days, it is very unlikely the Proteas cricketers will be able to participate in the CPL.
The participation of the South African cricketers in the IPL 2020 will totally depend on the resumption of international flights to Dubai or Abu Dhabi. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will have to think about some special arrangements to bring in the Proteas cricketers to UAE if the situation prevails.
As many as 10 Proteas cricketers are contracted with different franchises to play in the IPL 2020. They are AB De Villiers (RCB), Chris Morris (Royal Challengers Bengaluru), Kagiso Rabada (Delhi Capitals), Quinton De Kock (Mumbai Indians), Dale Steyn (Royal Challengers Bengaluru), Faf Du Plessis (Chennai Super Kings), Imran Tahir (Chennai Super Kings), Hardus Viljoen (KingsXI Punjab), David Miller (Rajasthan Royals) and Lungi Ngidi (Chennai Super Kings). Both Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore has 3 players each from South Africa in their squads.
The Indian Premier League 2020 (IPL 2020) is all set to start in UAE from September 19.