IPL 2021: New Zealand Cricket Chief Confirms Their Players' Participation For The Remaining Matches In The UAE

New Zealand cricket chief has announced their players would be featuring in the second half of IPL 2021 in the UAE. The last few days have seen plenty of speculation over the issue, considering New Zealand’s tour of Pakistan in the September-October window. The BCCI confirmed that the remaining 31 fixtures would begin on the 19th of September.

Only 29 matches could be possible in the first phase as a handful of COVID-19 positive cases forced the BCCI to postpone the competition indefinitely. A handful of cases across Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, and SunRisers Hyderabad prompted the board to take immediate action. Finally, during the AGM in May, the BCCI decided to conduct the league in October.

The doubts about New Zealand players’ participation crept when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) requested two additional T20Is apart from the already scheduled three ODIs and three T20Is. But David White has brushed those aside and confirmed the key players’ availability.

“New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, James Neesham, and Lockie Ferguson will feature in the second phase of the IPL 2021 in the UAE,” White stated as quoted by the GEO Tv.

BCCI in talks with Australia and England to let their players feature in IPL 2021 in the UAE:

One of the franchise officials stated last month that BCCI are conversing with the Australian and England Cricket boards to allow their players for the second phase of IPL 2021. Furthermore, they already had the confirmation of the Kiwi cricketers featuring in the UAE for the cash-rich league.

“We are much relieved now. BCCI are in talks with English and Australian boards to come to a consensus regarding this. Given April and May are earmarked for the IPL, they are right to raise their own objections, but we are now confirmed to witness New Zealand players in action,” a franchise official told Cricket.com.,”

Also Read: IPL 2021: BCCI Working With International Boards To Ensure The Availability Of Overseas Players For The UAE Leg