The New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has given the choice to their players whether they want to play in the IPL 2023 or in the Pakistan tour which will happen at the same time. The CEO of New Zealand Cricket, David White made the comments on Tuesday.
New Zealand is set to tour Pakistan twice- first in December 2022-January 2023 and again in April-May 2023, to play two Tests, 9 ODIs, and 8 T20Is in what is their first trip to the Asian nation after 2002.
The two Tests will be part of the ICC World Test Championship. In addition, the two sides will clash in three ODI Super League matches as both nations will be looking to seal a direct qualification spot for the ICC World Cup 2023.
In the second phase of the tour, the two sides will compete in five T20Is and as many ODIs. The matches are slated from April 13 to May 7.
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This phase is set to clash with the IPL 2023, the 16th edition of the tournament which will be a 2-and-a-half-month affair.
While the Pakistani players do not play in the IPL, the New Zealanders are in quite a demand with the likes of Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Mitchell Santner, and Lockie Ferguson being the first XI players of their respective franchises.
The NZC has said that it will be up to the players to choose whether they want to travel to Pakistan or participate in the IPL 2023, but they will be allowed to do as they choose.
“As of our understanding, our full-strength side will go to Pakistan. I haven’t talked to players and their associations further in this regard. But, players will be allowed to play in IPL. They will be free to make a choice between IPL and Pakistan tour,” David White told New Zealand media.
Talking about New Zealand traveling to Pakistan, White said: “Our delegation visited Pakistan earlier this year. We are in contact with the embassy and our government about this tour."
(News18 inputs)
