Australia Stars In Danger Of Missing IPL 2020: Report

While both the BCCI and the IPL franchises have spoken about the need to have the government allow foreign players to play in this year’s IPL, the question that is now doing the rounds is whether the foreign boards will allow their players to participate to travel to India during the coronavirus pandemic.

And Cricket Australia (CA) is planning to do something similar with its players. According to a report in Fox Sports, the Australian players could be forced to give up their lucrative IPL due to the restrictions around the globe because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The news comes just hours after CA, on Tuesday, confirmed that the 2019-20 Sheffield Shield final has been scrapped and NSW declared champions. On the same day,  CA chief executive Kevin Roberts said players were individually contracted to their IPL franchises and had the power to make up their own minds regarding their participation in the tournament.

However, media reports suggest that the Australian board is now reviewing whether it will permit its players to participate in the IPL or The Hundred series in the UK. As per the report, the No Objection Certificates that CA gives to the players for their participation in the IPL is now under review.

The IPL has already been delayed from March 29 to April 15 due to the coronavirus outbreak but CA is in no mood to take any risk. And the global response to curb the spread of the virus could see big names like Pat Cummins, David Warner, Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith miss out millions of dollars.

“We can provide advice. We’re conscious of the fact that Australian players are individually contracted to the IPL and the time will certainly come very soon where players are going to be really interested and leaning on our perspective as their leader… to advise them in that regard,” said Kevin Roberts.

“And then there will also be a perspective from the BCCI and their IPL division within that and together with our players and the BCCI I’m sure players will reach the best possible decisions in uncertain circumstances,” he added.

The BCCI recently announced the tournament would be delayed as they suspended the league till at least April 15. But as of now, there is absolutely no clarity over when will the league start. All the major series and tournaments have been called off or postponed in the wake of the outbreak.

Also Read: Players Return Back Home As All IPL Franchises Suspend Pre-Tournament Camps