New Zealand bowler and Mumbai Indians pace spearhead Trent Boult is keen on playing the remaining matches of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, which is scheduled to take place in the UAE later this year. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday announced it will complete the remaining matches of IPL 2021 during September and October in UAE. The tournament will reportedly start on September 17 and end by October 10, a week before the ICC T-20 World Cup.
While talking to the media this week, Boult expressed excitement about playing the remainder of the tournament. Boult has been enjoying playing in IPL during the last two seasons as he helped Mumbai Indians to win the title last season. He was also enjoying good form in IPL 2021 before the tournament was suspended at the start of May.
“It was differently different to play half of the tournament. Looks like it is moving forward to the UAE, it was held very nicely last year there. If I’ll get a chance I’ll be looking forward to finishing that campaign off myself.”
IPL 2021 had to be suspended after several players and staff members tested for COVID-19. BCCI always insisted that the tournament will resume and it is not cancelled. The Indian cricket board finally decided to move the tournament to UAE during Special General Meeting on May 29. Sri Lanka and County Cricket Clubs were reportedly ready to host the remaining games, but BCCI reverting to UAE after successfully staging IPL 2020 at the same venue.
BCCI will officially announce the dates and schedule soon after getting the nod from UAE. Key members of the board are already in UAE to get the final details sorted to start preparations for the tournament.
The Indian cricket board is also unsure about the availability of most of the foreign cricketers in IPL 2021. England has already said that English players will not be taking part in the remainder of IPL. Players from New Zealand, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan are also doubtful, so are the players from the West Indies. Cricket Australia is yet to decide on the availability of Australian players for the remaining games of IPL 2021.