IPL 2021 Phase 2: New Zealand cricketers to be available for IPL in UAE – After a lot of speculations, IPL franchises can breathe a sigh of relief about New Zealand players’ availability. New Zealand Cricket chief David White has confirmed that Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson and other Kiwi stars will be available in the IPL 2021 Phase 2 despite New Zealand playing Pakistan in a limited-overs series during the window.
With New Zealand touring Pakistan in the September-October window, it was expected that after England even Kiwi players would be absent from the IPL 2021 Phase 2 in UAE. Their availability was further plunged into doubt after Pakistan requested for two additional T20I matches in addition to three ODIs and as many T20Is.
IPL 2021 Phase 2: However, David White was quoted by GeoTV saying that “New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, James Neesham, and Lockie Ferguson will feature in the second phase of the IPL 2021 in the UAE” instead of the Pakistan series.
With the T20 World Cup slated to start on October 17, England and Bangladesh have already barred players from taking part in the IPL 2021 while Cricket Australia is also mulling over pulling out their players. However, NZC had remained silent on the matter until now.
New Zealand Players in IPL 2021: Kane Williamson (SRH), Adam Milne (MI), Trent Boult (MI), Mitchell Santner (CSK), Lockie Ferguson (KKR), Tim Seifert (KKR), Finn Allen (RCB), Kyle Jamieson (RCB).
IPL 2021 Phase 2: Last month, it was learnt that some Kiwi players expressed interest in playing in the IPL 2021 to prepare for the T20 World Cup as both tournaments will be played at the same venues. However, official confirmation was yet to come.
But now that David White has confirmed their availability, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders will be able to plan accordingly as some franchises had already expressed displeasure at BCCI’s lack of communication on the foreign players’ availability.
“We are much relieved now. BCCI are in talks with English and Australian boards to come to a consensus regarding this. Given April and May are earmarked for the IPL, they are right to raise their own objections, but we are now confirmed to witness New Zealand players in action,” one of the franchise officials told Cricket.com last month after hearing the rumours.
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