The 14th edition of the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to get underway from September 19 in the UAE and amid the uncertainty over the availibility of foreign players, England batsman Dawid Malan has ensured that currently he is committed to feature for Punjab Kings (PBKS) when the season resumes.
Earlier, the lucrative league was forced to be postponed midway in May this year due to the rising number of Covid cases inside the tournament’s bubble.
Later, the BCCI decided to host the remainder of the league in the UAE however, the second leg posed a major challenge before the organisers as various overseas players already had packed international commitments.
After the IPL, the T20 World Cup will get underway in the UAE and with the Ashes also scheduled this year, the England players, who will be a part of all the three tournaments will have to stay in the bio-bubble for a longer period of time.
However, if they pull out of the IPL and do not get selected for either of the two events – the T20 World Cup and the Ashes, it would mean they missed out an opportunity to feature in the world’s most popular T20 league beside suffering financially.
Commenting on it, Malan termed it as a tough situation for the players. He meanwhile, ensured that at this point, he was committed to play for PBKS.
“It’s quite a tough schedule. The only guarantee we have at the moment is IPL – we don’t know if we’re going to the World Cup and we don’t know if we’re going to the Ashes, so it leaves us in quite a tough situation,” Malan said after the end of second day’s play of the ongoing third Test against India.
“Say you give up the IPL and you don’t get picked for either of the England squads, then you’ve given up the IPL. Or if you go to the IPL and then you get selected after you’ve gone to the IPL then you’re sat in the bubble for five and a half months. So it’s a tricky situation. Hopefully, we can get some answers and we can find some time to get a rest out of these bubbles,” he added.
“I think all possibilities are open, at the moment I have committed to the IPL, nothing will change at the moment and if things do change maybe we can reassess but at the moment I have committed to the IPL,” he signed off.
Significantly in the recent times, various franchises have signed replacements for players, who will miss out the second leg of the IPL due to international commitments.
Franchises like the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)have announced replacements in their respective squads recently.
While the Virat kohli-led RCB have signed Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga as replacement for Australia’s Adam Zampa. Hasaranga had bagged a total of seven wickets, including a four-wicket haul in the final T20I, in the recently held T20I series against India.
RCB also roped in Dushmantha Chameera for Daniel Sams, left-arm quick George Garton for Kane Richardson and Tim David for New Zealand’s Finn Allen.
Meanwhile, RR have acquired Kiwi wicketkeeper-batsman Glenn Phillips as a replacement for England’s Jofra Archer while South Africa’s Tabraiz Shamsi has been signed to replace Andrew Tye.
Malan’s side PBKS have roped in Aussie pacer Nathan Ellis for Riley Meredith and England leg-spinner Adil Rashid for Jhye Richardson.
On the other hand, KKR have snapped New Zealand’s Tim Southee, who will replace Australia’s Pat Cummins.