Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
Fresh reports around the Indian Premier League suggest that West Indies players with Indian Premier League contracts might not be able to feature in the UAE leg of the season in 2021 owing to a packed Caribbean Premier League schedule. Although the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had gone on record suggesting that it will have a word with overseas boards to make sure most players are available, nothing concrete has materialised yet.
Earlier, Australian and England players were already in doubt for the remainder of the league and the reports suggesting the doubtful participation of players from West Indies comes as a big shock for the IPL organisers. It should be outlined here that the CPL 2021 is currently slated to finish just before the proposed resumption of IPL 2021 on September 19.
Punjab Kings, Mumbai Indians will be among the worst affected if West Indies players aren't available
If this indeed happens to be the case, franchises like Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians will be among the worst affected sides as they boast of some top players from the Windies. The CPL 2021 is right now set for August 28 start with the final scheduled for September 19.
Although the Indian board is likely to have a word with Cricket West Indies, they have also lesser options since they are to host Pakistan in July-August which allows for just the window they have allotted to the CPL. In another possible scenario, perhaps the players will be able to join the franchises a bit late although nothing on that regard has come from official sources.