Missing New Zealand’s test tour of England to fulfill his IPL commitments is not the “preferred” of skipper Kane Williamson, who will see how the situation unfolds before making a decision.
The IPL is likely to begin in the second week of April and its knockout matches may extend into early June, potentially clashing with New Zealand’s first Test in England, which begins June 2 at Lord’s.
“It’s certainly not preferred,” Williamson was quoted as saying by ‘ESPNCricinfo’ about the possible crash.
“I know that when the plans were put into practice, that was not the idea then, but as we have seen, you can make plans today and they rarely go according to plan.
“For us it is being able to adapt as quickly as possible, we still have to wait and see when the dates are finalized to really know what is happening before any decision is made, but the ideal scenario is to be available and close for all that cricket , ”Williamson added.
The two test matches against England were announced last month and are not part of the test world championships.
However, the series will be played just before the WTC final, starting on June 18, for which New Zealand has already qualified.
“We will have to wait and see,” Williamson said.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has indicated that it cannot block its players from fully participating in the IPL, even if the lucrative league’s knockout matches collide with the Test series.
Earlier this week, NZC CEO David White said the boards “will take a pragmatic approach as these meetings are a late addition to the calendar.”
Top players like Williamson, Trent Boult, Lockie Fergusen and Kyle Jamieson, who became the highest paid and fourth highest paid New Zealander in the IPL’s 14-year history, are likely to stick with their franchises.
Despite being given free rein to participate in the league by the NZC, New Zealand cricketers have yet to miss a test match for the IPL. In the last three tours of England in 2008, 2013 and 2015, the IPL contingent arrived just days before the first test.
However, even if the dates don’t match, players can miss matches due to certain COVID-19 quarantine protocols.
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