Cricket Australia’s Blunt Message to BCCI on Foreign Players’ IPL 2025 Return….
Cricket Australia’s Support for Players Amid IPL 2025 Dilemma
May 2025 – As the IPL 2025 season resumes on May 17, after being temporarily suspended due to the tense situation along the India-Pakistan border, several overseas players, especially Australians, are facing a tough decision: return to India or stay home.
Reports suggest that high-profile players like Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc are unlikely to rejoin their IPL teams for the remainder of the season. Many other players are still undecided about whether they will head back to India or not. Amid these concerns, Cricket Australia has weighed in with its official stance on the matter.
Cricket Australia’s Stance on IPL Participation
Cricket Australia has clarified that they will support each player’s personal choice regarding their participation in the remaining IPL matches. The board has acknowledged the challenging situation, especially with the ongoing border tensions and the World Test Championship (WTC) final looming.
- Individual Decision: Cricket Australia confirmed that it will support the decision of players whether they choose to stay back in Australia or return to India.
- World Test Championship Preparation: For those players who decide to continue with the IPL, Cricket Australia emphasized that team management will work with them to ensure they are adequately prepared for the WTC final, which is set to begin on June 11.
- Security and Communication: The board has reassured players that it is maintaining ongoing communication with both the Australian Government and the BCCI regarding security arrangements for those in India.
The Impact on IPL and the WTC Final
The IPL 2025 season was initially scheduled to wrap up on May 25, but due to the ongoing situation, the season will now conclude on June 3, just one week before the World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa. This overlap puts Australian and South African players in a difficult position, as the IPL will end just days before they are expected to compete in the high-stakes WTC final.
Australian Players in the IPL
Among the Australian players in the IPL, Josh Hazlewood is already confirmed to be out for the remainder of the season. However, other players like Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, and Mitchell Starc have yet to confirm whether they will return to India for the final stretch of the IPL.
BCCI’s Position
Meanwhile, the BCCI has made it clear that it expects all foreign players to return to India and fulfill their IPL commitments. This directive comes as part of the board’s efforts to ensure that the tournament finishes with full participation.
As the situation unfolds, Cricket Australia’s approach reflects a balance between player choice and professional commitments. With national duty and player safety being key considerations, it will be interesting to see how the remaining Australian players in the IPL handle the situation, especially with the WTC final coming up so soon after the IPL’s extended conclusion.
