Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
Kolkata Knight Riders captain Eoin Morgan has confirmed his participation for the second half of the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League in UAE after the postponement of England's tour to Bangladesh. The Three Lions were set to play three ODIs and three T20Is in Bangladesh in September-October but the England and Wales Cricket Board released a statement on Tuesday confirming that they had "mutually decided" to postpone the tour until March 2023.
IPL 2021 is set to resume on September 19 after it was postponed midway through the season owing to the emergence of various Coronavirus cases inside the bio-secure bubbles. The postponement of white-ball series has opened up the opportunity for England players to now take part in the IPL which is happening in UAE. Moreover, it gives them a better chance to prepare for the T20 World Cup also set to be played in the Middle East.
If some guys go to the IPL, they'll play in similar conditions to the World Cup: Morgan
"It's a complete individual decision," Morgan, who is currently leading The Hundred side London Spirit said.
"I think it was a win-win either way. If we went to Bangladesh we'd play in conditions that are foreign to us. If some guys go to the IPL, they'll play in similar conditions [to the World Cup] or for guys that need a rest, they take a rest," he added.
"We've a lot of cricket to play between now and then. We've planned on the tour going ahead - that's been part of our planning for a long time now - but equally, given the nature in which we now compete and live our lives, it's not a bad thing for guys to either take time off or go to the IPL if they feel refreshed and have enough energy," he further said.
England's only two remaining international matches before the World Cup beginning on October 17 are set to be played in Pakistan on October 14 and 15. The ECB and PCB are both confident that they will be able to go ahead with that tour. The IPL final is scheduled on October 15, creating a potential clash for players whose franchises reach the business end of the tournament.