The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is in talks with its counterparts in Sri Lanka to diffuse the crisis involving players taking part in the Indian Premier League (IPL) being asked to return home by the country’s sports minister to prepare for the England tour.
“We are in talks with the Lankan board and we hope to find a solution to this crisis soon,” a top BCCI official told Times of India on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka’s Minister of Sport Mahindanda Aluthgamage issued a decree on Tuesday ordering players selected for the tour of England which begins on May 14 to return for training on May 5 midway through IPL season four.
According to IPL rules, if a player misses a series of games, he won’t be entitled to get paid for those matches. However, the issue is not about money. IPL team owners are worried that if their top Lankan players miss the business end of IPL, it would affect the balance of their sides.
Imagine Mumbai Indians trying to fire on the home stretch without the in-form Lasith Malinga; or Kochi Tuskers playing without their captain Mahela Jayawardene and Deccan Chargers without skipper Kumar Sangakkara.
When the auction took place in January this year, the teams were told that the Lankans would be available till May 22 and team combinations were formed on that assurance. Now, if the Lankan sports minister doesn’t change its mind, the teams will have a lot to complain about, which could also lead to tension between the Indian and Lankan boards, the report added.
Sri Lanka are scheduled to play their first Test match in England from May 26 and BCCI is hoping that some of the top Lankans players will stay back till the end-the IPL final is on May 28.
“We share a good rapport with the SLC. We will sort out this issue,” the BCCI official said.
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