Virat Kohli wants India’s premier fast bowlers to skip IPL 2019 for World Cup: Report

While the World Cup is slated to be held in England from May 30 to July 14, IPL 2019 is expected to start in the first week of April and culminate in the third week of May.

Kohli suggested that key pacers like Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar should not be a part of IPL 2019

India skipper Virat Kohli wants to have a “fresh and fit” pace attack at his disposal for the ICC World Cup 2019 and thus he called for country’s premier fast bowlers to be rested from the next edition of Indian Premier League.  

As per a report in The Indian Express, Kohli, in a meeting with the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (COA) suggested that leading pacers like Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and others in the fray for next year’s World Cup should not be part of the cash-rich league.

While the World Cup is slated to be held in England from May 30 to July 14, IPL 2019 is expected to start in the first week of April and culminate in the third week of May.

Among the players who were present in the meeting include captain Virat Kohli, Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane and senior batsman Rohit Sharma. Head coach Ravi Shastri and chairman of selection committee MSK Prasad had also attended the meeting.

The suggestion from Team India was that BCCI should compensate the pacers for missing the IPL in a bid to prepare for the World Cup. Report also claims that CoA consulted IPL chief operating officer Hemang Amin on whether such a decision could be taken. It’s learnt that Amin advised that the franchises need to be informed about any such move well ahead or at least before the window for player transfers, which closes on November 15.

“There were a lot of suggestions, with the players sharing their views, but no decision was taken on this. It will be taken at the appropriate time, if needed,” sources told The Indian Express.

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia (CA) and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have informed the BCCI about their players’ availability in IPL 2019. Keeping in mind the ICC World Cup 2019 in mind, CA and ECB won’t allow their players to take part in IPL beyond May 1.

(With inputs from The Indian Express)

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 08 Nov, 2018

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