English cricket potentially facing implications with Bethell's return, an influx from abroad, and a September clash following IPL postponement: Possible effects.
In a shocking turn of events, the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) has been pushed back by a week due to the escalating military tension between India and Pakistan. Here's how this suspension could impact English cricket.
The speed at which the conflict has escalated following last month's terror attack in India-controlled Kashmir has left the cricketing world in turmoil. Yesterday (May 8), the Punjab Kings match against Delhi Capitals in Dharamshala was axed after 10.1 overs, followed by an official announcement today that the tournament, with only two weeks left to run, will be suspended for a week.
The uncertainty of the situation leaves several scenarios possible for the remaining tournament. While it's plausible that it could resume next week as stated, the tournament's history has shown a tendency to be moved out of India. The 2021 IPL was shifted to the UAE halfway through, after surging Covid cases in India. The announcement of the suspension in 2021 came in early May too, and the remaining matches were played in September and October.
Saying Adieu to the Subcontinent?
The suspension of the IPL will inevitably affect overseas players, notably the English contingent. Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell, Moeen Ali, Phil Salt, Jofra Archer, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Will Jacks, and Reece Topley are the English players currently representing IPL teams in India.
With the tournament set to recommence next week, their decision regarding whether to stay in the country becomes more challenging. The UK government currently warns against all travel within 10km of the India-Pakistan border and all but essential travel to the regions of Jammu and Kashmir, and Manipur. Players might choose to remain with their franchises until further information on the tournament's resumption is released, although it was reported after the postponement of the PSL that the seven English players involved were divided in their stance on staying.
If the IPL's suspension continues, those players will head back home, and could potentially be available for England's Test match against Zimbabwe later in May.
The County Championship's Shining Moment?
In case the IPL is postponed further, there is a possibility of a bustling influx of county signings. The World Test Championship final is scheduled to take place at Lord's in the second week of June between Australia and South Africa. Players likely to be involved in the clash currently with IPL franchises might seize the opportunity to fit in a couple of red-ball games before the marquee event.
A more substantial influx of county signings could emerge from India players, in anticipation of the five-match Test series in England starting in July. The County Championship has a gap between the end of May and the end of June, while the first Test match isn't set to commence until July 2, leaving India players plenty of time to get some county cricket under their belts if the tournament resumes later.
Surrey previously signed Virat Kohli ahead of the 2018 Test series between England and India, but the arrangement was scrapped after the then-captain suffered a neck injury. There's also the possibility for county deals lost to IPL call-ups to be revived. Shardul Thakur originally signed with Essex ahead of the summer for their first seven County Championship matches, but his call-up to Lucknow Super Giants to replace Mohsin Khan scuttled the arrangement.
Calendar Chaos?
If the IPL resumes next week, the calendar will operate as usual, causing little disruption to player availability. The most at-risk series in that scenario is England's white-ball series against West Indies, which clashes with the end of the tournament if it's delayed by a week.
However, if the tournament is postponed further to recommence later in the year, the calendar could become more complex. A rescheduling to later in the summer could jeopardize player-availability for international fixtures and The Hundred. The Hundred will conclude on August 31, and an IPL recommencement in August could lead marquee overseas and English players to opt out in order to fulfill their IPL obligations. There is also an England white-ball series against South Africa set to kick off on September 2, which could again be complicated by an IPL reschedule affecting the availability of a core group of players involved in that series.
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- English players participating in the IPL, such as Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, and Jofra Archer, are facing a challenging decision regarding their stay in India due to the tournament suspension and escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.
- If the IPL is postponed further, there is a potential for an influx of county signings for England's County Championship, particularly from India players preparing for the Test series in July.
- The IPL suspension and potential rescheduling could lead to complications in the cricket calendar, potentially affecting player availability for international fixtures, The Hundred, and even England's white-ball series against South Africa.
