Indian Premier League Observer

Even as the cash-flooded Indian Premier League is about to start on April 18, 2008, the international cricket schedule faces big threat. With players from different parts of the world expected to participate in the two month cricket extravaganza, there are concerns that Australia’s West Indies tour, Bangladesh team’s Pakistan visit, New Zealand tour of England and ICC Intercontinental Cup might be affected.

The Bangladesh team is touring Pakistan from April 8- 19. Their schedule five one day matches. It is expected that some of the Pakistan players would skip the first few IPL matches due to their hectic international schedule. There is also uncertainty that players like Mohammad Yousuf would be allowed to play in IPL or not following a case filed by the unofficial Indian Cricket League (ICL). They have approached the arbitration panel to block Yousuf from participating in the IPL. The verdict will come only after April 30.

Sri Lanka’s West Indian tour already started. It will conclude on April 14.  West Indian and Sri Lankan players won’t get much time to relax before they set out to play in the IPL matches. It is expected that the first few matches of IPL would not have a lot of celebrity players on the field.

Cricket enthusiasts are also eagerly waiting to know which New Zealand, England, West Indian and Australian players would be available for the last lap of IPL matches.

New Zealand is touring England from April to July. Five New Zealand players have been allowed to participate in Twenty20 games in IPL. The New Zealand Cricket Assocaition has given permission to Daniel Vettori, Brendon McCullum, Jacob Oram, Ross Taylor and Kyle Mills to skip warm up matches during the English tour. The players, who are part of different IPL teams, at are expected to join the team only by May 1.

Meanwhile, the Australian team’s West Indian tour starts on May 16. The team will play two tests, five ODIs and one Twenty20 match against West Indies. It is now clear that Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan would not play the first two tests due to their pre occupation with the Indian Premier League. These players have already signed with different IPL teams.

Cricket lovers world over are worried over the impact of the IPL on the international cricket. There are also reports that some of the Australian cricket stars participating in IPL matches may miss the training camp before their tour in West Indies.

Many small cricket playing nations such as Zimbabwe, West Indies and New Zealand are very much disappointed over the present schedule of IPL as they fear big revenue losses. Their cricket season coincides with the IPL tournament and the cricket boards in these countries are worried that their income would dwindle this season.