IPL 2021: After sorting CPL roadblock, BCCI in talks with ECB, CA to ensure foreign player participation

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) got a confirmation from the Cricket West Indies (CWI) regarding on advancement of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), by four days to accommodate the Indian Premier League (IPL) which is set to begin from September 19. After successfully finalizing the deal with the CWI, the BCCI are now set to talk with Cricket Australia (CA) and England Cricket Board (ECB) regarding the availability of foreign players for the second half of the league which will be staged in the UAE.

During the Special General Meeting (SGM) which had taken place on May 29, the BCCI were pondering over the thought to have a discussion with the boards, to make the players available from England and Australia for the eight-team tournament.

Now, with CWI agreeing to BCCI’s request, the board is confident of convincing CA and ECB to ensure foreign player participation for the reaming 31 games.

“Both IPL and CPL are important to CWI, to our cricketers and to fans. CWI’s role was to facilitate arrangements for a non-overlapping and smooth transition from one tournament to the next. Cricket administrators must collaborate if cricket is to survive the risks and costs of COVID-19,” Ricky Skerritt, the CWI President, told ESPNcricinfo.

BCCI trying to convince CA and ECB boards

The majority of the foreign players are from England and Australia, and if they give IPL a miss, then surely the eight teams will face a lot of problems. England and Australia have a packed calendar year with the former hosting Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India for the limited-overs series and Tests respectively. Apart from that, England are also set to host The Hundred tournament, which is starting on July 21.

Meanwhile, Australia are set to travel to West Indies and Bangladesh for a white-ball series. This makes it very difficult for the players from both teams to feature in the remaining IPL. On the other hand, if England and Australia players skip the remaining 31 games, the BCCI has a backup and is also trying to talk with smaller teams too like Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Interestingly, South Africa does not have any scheduled series during the IPL window.

Apart from roping the foreign players, the BCCI also has a logistical hurdle as it has to get all the players and broadcasters vaccinated before they enter the UAE. Also, it has to arrange charter flights for India, West Indies and South Africa players.