Australian cricketers to take part in the second leg of IPL 2021?

Australian Cricketers in second leg of IPL 2021: After a superb arrangement and successfully organising a total of 29 matches, it was a pretty terrible setback for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to witness multiple Covid-19 cases emerge from more than one franchise bio-bubbles and thus, they were forced to suspend the Indian Premier League (IPL) with immediate effect for the security of all the players. While most of the Indian as well as overseas IPL players have already reached their respective homes, the Australian contingent are spending their quarantine in the Maldives due to the Australian government’s travel ban imposed from India ends on May 15.

IPL 2021: Will the Australian players be available for the second leg?

In the present scenario, the Australian team have no international cricket lined-up until October this year and thus, majority of the Aussie players will most likely be available for the second leg of IPL 2021 only if it happens before the T20 World Cup. However, Australia have to tour Bangladesh to play a three-match T20I series but the schedule has not been announced as of now. After the all-important T20 World Cup scheduled to be played from October 18-November 15, the Tim Paine-led Australian team will host Afghanistan for a one-off Test match before getting on to the field for the marquee Ashes series against England starting from November 21.

Therefore, if the BCCI plans to organise the IPL post the T20 World Cup, majority of the Australian players like David Warner from Sunrisers Hyderabad, Steve Smith from Delhi Capitals, Pat Cummins from Kolkata Knight Riders and many more are unlikely to be available for the remainder of the tournament. Also, Australia’s white-ball specialists will also not be available due to their Big Bash League (BBL) commitments.

New Zealand and England players available for remainder of IPL 2021?

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Director of Cricket Ashley Giles has already given a massive statement that due to the busy cricketing calendar ahead this year, the England cricketers are unlikely to participate in the second leg of IPL 2021. In another setback, the New Zealand players are also unlikely to play in the remainder of IPL 2021 season as the Kiwis are scheduled to play 3 ODIs and as many T20Is against Pakistan in the UAE in September which currently looks as the most feasible window for completing the second leg of the IPL. Also, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s premier spinner Rashid Khan might miss the remainder of the IPL season due to his national commitments with the Afghanistan team.

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