The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian Premier League (IPL) governing council have held the participation of overseas cricketers as one of the most important aspects of staging IPL 2020 amid all the coronavirus threat. But the question that is now doing the rounds is whether the foreign boards will allow their players to participate to travel to India during the pandemic.
The cash-rich league which was scheduled to commence from March 29 was postponed until April 15 for the outbreak of COVID-19. The stakeholders gave players’ safety all the importance and took preventive measures to restrict pandemic. But the authorities are still hopeful of hosting IPL 2020 but one question still remains is the availability of the foreign cricketers.
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And Cricket Australia (CA) is planning to do something similar with its players. According to a report in Fox Sports, the Australian players could be forced to give up their lucrative IPL due to the restrictions around the globe because of the coronavirus pandemic.
On the same day, CA chief executive Kevin Roberts said players were individually contracted to their IPL franchises and had the power to make up their own minds regarding their participation in the tournament. However, media reports suggest that the Australian board is now reviewing whether it will permit its players to participate in the IPL or The Hundred series in the UK. As per the report, the No Objection Certificates that CA gives to the players for their participation in the IPL is now under review.
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“We can provide advice. We’re conscious of the fact that Australian players are individually contracted to the IPL and the time will certainly come very soon where players are going to be really interested and leaning on our perspective as their leader… to advise them in that regard,” said Kevin Roberts.
Meanwhile, the upcoming days will be crucial as it will clear the picture whether BCCI will host IPL 2020 or defer it until next year.