The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced last month that the rest of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 season will take place in the United Arab Emirates, “considering the monsoon season in India in the months of September-October.” While this announcement brought pleasure to IPL fans all across the world, many were left wondering whether or not their favourite international stars would be able to compete. Many major names have been speculated to be absent when the IPL resumes in the UAE in 2021, and Dinesh Karthik almost ruled out Kolkata Knight Riders’ standout bowler Pat Cummins on Friday.
According to the former KKR captain, the Australian speed sensation has stated “that he would not come.” Karthik’s comments will be a major setback for a club that was in seventh place in the IPL Points Table when the competition was forced to be rescheduled.
“Pat Cummins has stated that he will not be attending,” Karthik remarked to TOI.
The England players’ board is still to decide whether they will be permitted to compete in the competition, but Karthik has stated that if normal skipper Eoin Morgan does not show up, he will lead the KKR squad.
“In the case of Eoin Morgan, though, there are still three months to go. From now until September, a lot may happen. However, if I am called to lead, I will be prepared “said the batsman-wicketkeeper.
After COVID-19 pierced the IPL bio-bubble, some foreign stars, particularly those from Australia, were forced to leave India quickly after the IPL 2021 was postponed, with some players and staff members across teams testing positive.
After returning from the Maldives on a charter flight, Cummins, David Warner, and Steve Smith were among the Australian players, coaches, and officials who just completed the obligatory quarantine period earlier this week.
They stayed in the Maldives for around ten days until the Australian government relaxed a temporary prohibition on nationals from India returning home.