Playing IPL before the 2019 World Cup will Benefit our Players - MSK Prasad

The BCCI selectors are under pressure to look into the players’ workload management ahead of the 2019 World Cup. As the dates for IPL 2019 are yet to come out, talks over players’ fatigue have been continuing all over. Though date, when the tournament will begin, got announced earlier (March 23rd), the fixtures and venues are yet to be made public. However, MSK Prasad, team India’s chief selector, addressed the matter. He said playing the IPL 2019 will only benefit the players in the lead up to the 2019 World Cup.

Our players will get the game-time – MSK Prasad

As the BCCI’s selection committee has picked a pool of 18 players, of which India’s 15-man squad for the World Cup will get selected; MSK feels they will get the much-needed match practice. As every franchise has 14 games at least to play, the nominated players from each of the sides will have ample in getting game ready for the showpiece event.

Though too many games before cricket’s biggest competition could cause fatigue to them, MSK Prasad shares different thought on the same.

“Players’ workload management is obviously crucial and of paramount importance to us. However, playing in the IPL before the World Cup will help our players remain in the groove. They will get game-time which is so important. The variety of challenges that the IPL offers will keep the players in best shape and remain mentally strong,” Prasad told mid-day on Friday.

The interest of the game shall be protected – Amitabh

Meanwhile, a few of the players including MS Dhoni talked about how the IPL, as a platform, can help the bowlers stay in the game and gain momentum. However, BCCI’s acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary said they had kept everything in mind, and thus the interest of the game shall be protected.

“We have been in conversation with the franchises on all issues concerning the game of cricket as well as the interests of this country and there seems to be (conversable) views, if I may put it, in a larger kind of sense, without putting out the specifics,” Amitabh told Mid-Day.

Also, he added the dates for IPL 2019 will be announced first and venue later. He further confirmed this season of the Indian Premier League would be played in India even if the dates get clashed with the Lok Sabha elections.