Most Australian cricketers to be available for second leg of IPL 2021

Most of the Australian cricketers are set to take part in the second leg of the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL). Earlier, Pat Cummins, who plays for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), stated that he won’t be returning for the second half of the tournament to be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), possibly from September 18-20 to October 10-15.

Earlier, as per speculations, the Aussies were a tad apprehensive about going through the hassles of bio-secure bubbles after facing turmoil in India. However, for the time being, the talks have been put to rest.

Recently, a number of Australian cricketers pulled out from the tour of the West Indies and Bangladesh after citing personal reasons. It includes Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Daniel Sams, Kane Richardson, and Jhye Richardson among others.

Aaron Finch hits out hard on IPL bound players

Previously, Aaron Finch, Australia’s ODI and T20I skipper, lashed out at his teammates for prioritising the IPL over national duties. The captain was a tad surprised after keeping in mind Australia’s workload over the next few months.

“The other guys – I was a little bit surprised. I’ve chatted to them all – a little bit surprised but it’s also understandable … but I wish that they were there,” Finch told on SEN Radio, quoted by cricket.com.au.

“I think they would find it hard to justify going back and playing that second half of the IPL. Just purely based on the workload coming up with a T20 World Cup and a huge home summer. It’s really tough.

“It’s a tough situation that everyone has been put in, but personally, I would find it hard to do that knowing how difficult it is and how challenging it is mentally, and on your family as well. That’s what I would think,” he added.

In the meantime, the authorities of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have assured the IPL franchises about the participation of most foreign players. Recently, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was clear cut in saying that the English players will be focussing on international cricket.

However, if reports are to be believed, the BCCI is in talks with the ECB to allow England cricketers’ participation. The exact status of foreign players taking part will be known around July 15.