The ECB will review any extensions to the NOCs granted to players in light of the changed IPL itinerary.
The IPL was extended by a week after the rising military tensions between India and Pakistan, but is now on track after the two nations agreed to a ceasefire. The tournament will resume on May 17 and conclude on June 3, a change from the originally scheduled final date of May 25.
England will play a four-day Test against Zimbabwe starting on May 22, following which they will take on West Indies in a white-ball series. The ODIs will begin on May 29, with the remaining two games on June 1 and 3, the squad for which was announced earlier today.
The revised IPL schedule overlaps with the England-West Indies ODIs, raising the possibility that England players involved in the playoffs may miss part or all of the ODI series. From the ODI squad, Jacon Bethell (RCB), Liam Livingstone (RCB), Will Jacks (MI) and Jos Buttler (GT) are likely to feature in the IPL playoffs, of which Livingstone is the only one not picked for the ODIs. ECB said on Tuesday (May 13) that it will reassess their NOCs due to the clash with the international calendar.
In a statement, ECB said: “We’re keen to support the IPL and the BCCI in getting the schedule up and running, and to facilitate players’ return should they choose to go back.
"No Objection Certificates have been granted based on the original IPL dates, so we’ll need to review any potential extensions, particularly in relation to any clash with the final white-ball squad. We’ll continue to work closely with the BCCI and the IPL as the situation develops.”
South Africa wants players back by 26th
South Africa, on the other hand, are expecting their players back for international duty by May 26 as the team start their preparations for the World Test Championship final, scheduled for June 11.
Head coach Shukri Conrad said, “[According to] The initial agreement with the IPL/BCCI, with the final being on the 25th, players would return on the 26th. Nothing has changed from our perspective; that is the ongoing conversation. As it stands, we want our players back on the 26th.”
Australia, who will also play the WTC final at Lord’s, however, have left the decision to play in the remainder of the IPL to the players. A statement from CA read: “Cricket Australia will support players in their individual decisions whether to return to India or not. Team management will work through the preparation implications for the WTC final for those players who choose to play in the remaining IPL matches.”
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