'They won't be available for Netherlands series' - Gary Stead confirms availability of New Zealand players for IPL 2022

In what can be called a major development, New Zealand players are set to be available for the entirety of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Team’s head coach Gary Stead confirmed the same on Monday (March 7). For the unversed, the Kiwis are set to host Netherlands in a solitary T20Is and three ODIs, starting from March 25. As IPL 2022 is scheduled to get underway on March 26, availability of Kiwi international players was in doubt.

It has now been confirmed that New Zealand players having IPL contracts won’t participate in the series.  This means New Zealand will have to name a second-stringed squad with big guns like Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson and Tim Southee being unavailable. Wicketkeeper-batter Tom Latham is likely to lead the Kiwis against the Dutch team.

Gary Stead excited to work with new team

“They won’t be available for that (Netherlands) series. I think it’s always exciting as a coach when you know that a number of players build the depth of the squad and that leads to the big picture of leading it to the World Cup in the future,” Gary Stead said in a press conference.

The last few years have seen players choosing IPL ahead of the national assignments with the gala tournament offering lucrative contracts. Hence, several national boards have refrained from scheduling fixtures during the T20 competition. Besides New Zealand, several South African players are also expected to give the home series against Bangladesh a miss amid IPL 2022.

It must be noted that CSA has requested its national players to prioritize the Bangladesh series but has allowed the players to take the call. Meanwhile, the participation of England and New Zealand players in the knock-out matches in IPL 2022 is in doubts as the two sides are scheduled to lock horns in a three-match Test series, starting on June 2 on England soil. The final of this year’s IPL is to take place on May 29.