As the dates for the Indian Premier League 2020 have been announced, all the overseas stars would certainly be keen to be part of the globe's most lucrative cricket tournament since the 13th edition of the IPL 2020 set to be held in UAE, where there are no overseas travel restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Well, it is up to all cricket boards whether they would allow their players to play in the IPL 2020, however, South African and New Zealand players have already got the nod for the league.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) and New Zealand Cricket (NZC) both have confirmed that they will be issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to their IPL 2020 bound players after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has now “informally” decided to host the IPL 13 from September 19 to November 8 in the UAE.
NZC's spokesperson Richard Boock said the board would be issuing NOCs to six of its players including Kane Williamson (SunRisers Hyderabad), Trent Boult (Mumbai Indians), Jimmy Neesham (Kings XI Punjab), Mitchell Santner (Chennai Super Kings), Mitchell McClenaghan (Mumbai Indians) and Lockie Ferguson (Kolkata Knight Riders) for the IPL 2020.
Boock told ANI: “Yes, NZC will be issuing NOCs for New Zealand players participating in the IPL. We leave it up to the players to decide whether or not they want to participate and request NOCs.”
While CSA media manager Koketso Gaofetoge said as quoted by Times Now: “Cricket South Africa will definitely provide players with the NOCs for the Indian Premier League.”
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Proteas’ IPL 2020 bound players are: AB de Villiers (RCB), Chris Morris (RCB), Dale Steyn (RCB), Quinton de Kock (Mumbai Indians), Faf du Plessis (CSK), Imran Tahir (CSK), Lungi Ngidi (CSK), Kagiso Rabada (Delhi Capitals), Hardus Viljoen (Kings XI Punjab), and David Miller (Rajasthan Royals).
Following the CSA and NZC, all eyes are on Cricket Australia (CA) whether it will allow the players or not, as the board made it clear that they would make their consideration when the BCCI makes an official announcement about the IPL 2020 happening this year.
As per ANI, an unnamed Cricket Australia representative said: “Should the tournament be confirmed, Cricket Australia would then make its considerations accordingly.”
Noteworthy, there are as many as 14 players from Australia who have IPL 2020 contracts and they are Aaron Finch, Josh Philippe, Kane Richardson (All Royal Challengers Bangalore), Chris Lynn, Nathan Coulter-Nile (Both Mumbai Indians), Josh Hazelwood, Shane Watson (Both Chennai Super Kings), Alex Carey, Marcus Stoinis (Both Delhi Capitals), Glenn Maxwell (Kings XI Punjab), Pat Cummins, Chris Green (Both Kolkata Knight Riders) and, Steve Smith, Andrew Tye (Both Rajasthan Royals).
(With ANI/Times Now Inputs)
