India-Zimbabwe Series In Doubt Due To IPL Schedule

This year’s Indian Premier League will get underway from March 23. Earlier this month, the BCCI made the announcement after a lot of speculations over the schedule and the venue. With the general elections set to take place this summer, there were apprehensions that the IPL might move out of the country. However, the BCCI announced that the IPL will be played in India. The full schedule of the tournament is not out yet and is likely to be announced in early February.

However, the early start of the IPL could end Zimbabwe’s hopes of touring India. There is now a serious chance of the tour getting restructured, postponed or even cancelled entirely. The schedule for the series is not announced yet but Zimbabwe was likely to visit India in March which looks highly unlikely now. India were set to host Zimbabwe for one Test and three ODIs.

India’s ongoing series against Australia will end on January 18. After that, Virat Kohli & Co. will travel to New Zealand for a limited-overs tour. India will take on the Black Caps in five ODIs and three T20Is. The tour will end on February 10. Following that, the Kohli-led side will welcome Australia for two T20Is and five ODIs. Australia’s tour of India will start run from 24 February to 13 March. With this year’s IPL due to start on March 23, that leaves only 10 days to squeeze Zimbabwe in. Consequently, it looks unlikely that the series will take place ahead of the IPL.

According to ESPNcricinfo, Zimbabwe Cricket managing director Givemore Makoni will meet with the BCCI officials to discuss the tour. He might propose the Indian board to restructure the tour and include only ODIs and T20Is. There is also a chance of the tour getting postponed.

The ODIs against Zimbabwe was seen as India’s last minute preparations for the World Cup. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, were bracing for their first bilateral series in India since 2002.

Meanwhile, England will take on South Africa in the opener on May 30, 2019, at The Oval in London. The tournament will last for 45 days with 48 matches to be played. The Men in Blue will start their campaign against the Proteas on June 5.