The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is making plans to resume the Indian Premier League (IPL) after a week-long suspension. According to a report by NDTV on Sunday, sources close to the BCCI have indicated that the tournament could restart by May 16, with the final likely to be pushed to May 30 instead of the original date of May 25.
Despite this, IPL franchises are concerned about the return of foreign players, particularly from Australia. The Delhi Capitals, for instance, are facing uncertainty with their star pacer Mitchell Starc, who is reportedly unlikely to return to India for the remainder of the season.
Following the suspension of the league amid India-Pakistan military tensions, most Australian players flew back home. Starc and his wife, cricketer Alyssa Healy, were seen arriving at Sydney Airport but chose not to speak to the press. However, Starc’s manager later confirmed to Nine News that the pacer is not expected to return, even if the IPL resumes.
The Age reported that Cricket Australia (CA) would respect and support its players’ decisions if they choose to skip the rest of the IPL. Pat Cummins and Travis Head of Sunrisers Hyderabad are also back in Australia after their team’s elimination from the playoff race. They are likely to begin preparations for the World Test Championship Final against South Africa, which begins on June 11 at Lord’s.
Meanwhile, most New Zealand players have already returned home, and Cricket South Africa (CSA) has yet to decide on issuing further No Objection Certificates (NOC) for its players, with current ones set to expire on May 25.
With 16 matches still remaining in the tournament, several uncertainties remain about which foreign players will return and who won’t.