New Zealand Cricket’s (NZC) chief David White has confirmed the participation of New Zealand cricketers in the upcoming second phase of IPL 2021. Over the last few days, there have been several speculations on this topic, given that the Kiwis are to tour Pakistan in the September-October window.
With this tour clashing with the recently released schedule for the second phase of IPL 2021, many opined that the likes of Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, James Neesham, and others would not take part in the elite T20 tournament.
New Zealand Cricket Confirms Kane Williamson, James Neesham, And Lockie Ferguson Will Feature In The IPL 2021 2nd Phase
Further doubts were raised about their availability after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) requested two additional T20I matches apart from the already planned three ODIs and three T20Is. However, David White stated that these cricketers would give precedence to the IPL to be played in the UAE, the same place where the upcoming T20 World Cup will be held.
“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,” David White said as quoted by GeoTV.
New Zealand Players in IPL 2021: Kane Williamson (Sunrisers Hyderabad), Adam Milne (Mumbai Indians), Trent Boult (Mumbai Indians), Mitchell Santner (Chennai Super Kings), Lockie Ferguson (Kolkata Knight Riders), Tim Seifert (Kolkata Knight Riders), Finn Allen (Royal Challengers Bangalore), Kyle Jamieson (Royal Challengers Bangalore).
The IPL bound players include the likes of Kyle Jamieson, Trent Boult, Kane Williamson, Lockie Ferguson, Jimmy Neesham, Tim Seifert, and Finn Allen. The Blackcaps will open their new WTC campaign (2021-23) against India. The Kiwis did not lose a single Test to Virat Kohli’s men in the first edition of the tournament. The Blackcaps will play its first home series(2 Tests) of the new WTC tournament versus Bangladesh.
BCCI In Talks With Cricket Australia And England And Wales Cricket Board To Come To A Consensus Regarding Players’ Availability
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is also in talks with Cricket Australia (CA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to come to a consensus about their 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.
The second phase of IPL 2021 is scheduled to begin on September 19 and will close with the final on October 15. New Zealand is likely to tour Pakistan for a limited-overs series just before the T20 World Cup. The last time Blackcaps toured Pakistan was in 2003, where they were white-washed in the five-match ODI series.