MUMBAI: With the international itinerary of foreign boards expected to collide with the second leg of IPL 2021, the BCCI is factoring in the likely absence of many foreign players in its calculations.
BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla has asserted that completing the remainder of the season is the primary target at this point.
“We have discussed that (foreign players) issue also. Our main focus is on completing this edition of the IPL. It should not be left halfway through. So whichever foreign players are available is fine. Whoever is not available, it is not going to stop us from hosting the tournament,” Shukla told Khaleej Times.
“The Indian players are there, foreign players are there, but few foreign players will not be available. As I said, we have to complete our tournament.
“So the franchises will definitely look for other players. Whoever is available, we are going to have the tournament with them. That’s our policy,” he added.
Meanwhile, speaking to ANI, a BCCI source said: “The board has decided to discuss the issue with all the foreign boards involved over the next few weeks and will also give them adequate time to discuss the matter internally and inform the BCCI on whether players can be made available for the resumption of the 14th edition of IPL in UAE in September. The Indian board will wait till around July before taking the next set of decisions on player availability.”
Asked to throw light on the process that will be followed if top foreign stars are not available for the completion of the league in UAE, the source said: “Once the foreign boards come back on the matter of player availability, the BCCI will then discuss the matter with the franchises and make them aware of the scenario. In case some foreign players aren’t available for the tournament, the franchise will be allowed to rope in a replacement in the same manner in which injury replacements are picked under normal circumstances.”
Speaking on whether the fans will be attending the matches in the UAE, Shukla said: “The only issue is about the spectators, whether they will allow the spectators or not. So we will talk to them about that. We will go by whatever UAE authorities decide.”
“If they say it’s with spectators, and certain percentage of spectators, we are fine. Or if they say without spectators, that is also fine with us. There is no problem,” he added.
