The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Saturday confirmed to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that it had no objection to their players’ participation in the remainder of the IPL, which begins in the UAE on September 19.
It ends speculation over the English players’ availability for the business end of the tournament.
The Pakistan Cricket Board on Friday confirmed England’s tour of Pakistan for a T20I series. The two matches will be held in Rawalpindi on October 13 and 14. The IPL final is scheduled for October 15.
The ECB is expected to send a squad without the IPL recruits to Pakistan.
It was also learnt that Cricket Australia has given the green light to their players to participate in the IPL. The franchises were informed about the ECB and Cricket Australia’s decisions by the BCCI on Saturday.
The Telegraph had earlier reported that Cricket Australia had left it to their players to make their respective decisions on their participation.
Kolkata Knight Riders’ Pat Cummins though will remain unavailable. The fast bowler, who skipped the West Indies and Bangladesh tours to spend time with his pregnant fiancée, will not return to the IPL with his first child due in the middle of the tournament.
Steve Smith and Marcus Stoinis will join the Delhi Capitals in the UAE. David Warner has also confirmed availability to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Former captain and Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting also wants the players to be part of the IPL.
There are 14 English and 20 Australians in the different franchises for IPL 2021.