LONDON: The England Cricket Board (ECB) has made it clear that their upcoming tours of Pakistan and Bangladesh will take priority over the rescheduled Indian Premier League (IPL).
“If those tours go ahead I’d expect players to be there,” ECB’s managing director Ashley Giles told British media, adding, “We’re planning on involvement of England players in England matches.”
Giles had previously agreed that England players who were involved in the latter stages of the Indian Premier League (IPL) could miss the two-test series against top-ranked New Zealand starting June 2.
“The New Zealand scenario was very different,” Giles said, adding, “Those matches were formalised at the end of January, by which time contracts were signed for players to have full involvement in the IPL.”
The IPL 2021, which was postponed due to coronavirus, is expected to resume in October, the same time when England is scheduled to tour Pakistan and Bangladesh. England is due to play limited-overs matches in Bangladesh before proceeding to their first Pakistan tour in 16 years. They will play two T20s on October 14 and 15.
Following the postponement of the IPL, England internationals Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali – all currently serving their 10-day isolation period in government-approved hotels – could now be available for selection.
