IPL 2023: BCCI to ban Sri Lanka and Bangladesh players from competing

The 16th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 is scheduled to begin on March 31. As the world’s largest Twenty20 league returns to action, fans are buzzing with anticipation. A packed schedule and a slew of injuries for numerous franchises accompany the tournament’s start.

However, players from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka may not be able to participate in the IPL in the future, according to several reports. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), as it does each season, has set its own course for the national team games’ schedule.

Only Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, and Mushfiqur Rahim will be available for the upcoming tournament from April 9 to May 5, and again from May 15 onward. The BCCI is reportedly dissatisfied with their partial participation in the tournament as a result of this.

On the other hand, the first week of the tournament will be missed by four Sri Lankan players—Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, and Maheesh Theekshana—who will be with the national team for the New Zealand tour. Additionally, BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon recently confirmed that Bangladesh players will not participate in the IPL while on duty for their country.

“Franchises would be skeptical about picking players from certain countries if they are here to play the tournament partly,”

a BCCI official was quoted as saying by InsideSport.

The BCCI is said to be dissatisfied with players’ partial participation in the tournament. Recently, a franchise official came forward to comment on the unavailability of a number of players and express his concern about the situation. Interestingly, despite the Indian board’s apparent irritation, the franchises appear to support Bangladesh players in the hope that this situation will improve in the future.

“It is what it is. We can’t complain because it’s the BCCI that negotiates with other boards. But of course, franchises will be skeptical about picking players from certain countries. If you see, Taskin (Ahmed) did not get the NOC, and now this. If they don’t want their players to play, they should not register. But, for sure, the perception about Bangladeshi players will change in the future,”

a franchise official was quoted as saying by InsideSport.

On March 31, Gujarat Titans will face Chennai Super Kings in the tournament’s opening matchup at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.