Xtra Time Web Desk: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has overcome a major roadblock as they have got a green signal from England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to allow their cricketers to take part in the UAE leg of IPL 2021. The ECB has taken such a decision after postponement of its short white ball away series against Bangladesh scheduled in September.
It is learnt that the series is now likely to be played early next year and this gives the English players like Jos Buttler, fit-again Jofra Archer, Liam Livingstone, Eoin Morgan, Sam Curran, Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Tom Curran to represent their various IPL franchises. The IPL resumes in the UAE on September 19.
“Yes, we were in talks with ECB about the availability of their players for the IPL. We haven’t yet got the official confirmation with regards to that but we have an idea that chances are really bright,” a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
According to a report in UK newspaper Telegraph, England’s IPL stars are going to travel on the same charter flight from Manchester to Dubai for its bubble to bubble transfer.
The IPL 2021 has 31 matches left and it was postponed in early May this year after multiple cases of COVID-19 inside the bio-bubble.
However, the only issue could be mental health issue, which may lead to a few pull-outs like Livingstone, who was part of England’s white ball team opted out of IPL due to bubble fatigue.
In fact, star all-rounder Ben Stokes has pulled out of the India Test series needing to take care of his “mental well-being”. One could expect that if Stokes feels that he is ready for the rigours of competitive cricket by September, he might turn up in the Rajasthan Royals jersey.