It is a busy season ahead for cricketers, with the IPL 2024 coming up, followed by the T20 World Cup in the USA & the Caribbean. All the teams too, are trying their best to arrange for T20I series’ for their players, so that they could prepare for the World Cup. But now, those dates might just clash with the IPL.
Pakistan, who is set to host New Zealand for a five-match T20I series, from April 13 to 24 in Lahore & Rawalpindi, might be affected due to it. With the IPL 2024 starting on March 22, quite a few Kiwi players are slated to miss the PAK vs NZ series. While nothing is confirmed, but a host of players like Devon Conway (CSK), Daryl Mitchell (CSK), Rachin Ravindra (CSK), Mitchell Santner (CSK), Kane Williamson (GT), Lockie Ferguson (RCB), Trent Boult (RR), and Glenn Phillips (SRH), could miss the international series due to IPL commitments.
Pakistan at Receiving End Again
Something similar had happened in 2023 as well, where New Zealand was to tour Pakistan for five T20Is and as many ODIs in April and May. But as the series clashed with the IPL, their star players preferred the latter. The Kiwis still ended 2-2 with a second-string team, while they lost the ODIs 1-4.