The IPL has become a massive part of every nation’s cricketing calendar, and the months of April and May are booked for the Indian T20 extravaganza. There are very few international series that take place during the IPL.
For the 2021 season, there are a couple of hindrances. South Africa host Pakistan for seven white-ball fixtures in early April, and the Proteas players might miss a couple of weeks of the IPL. Meanwhile, Bangladesh are likely to tour Sri Lanka for two Test matches in April (dates haven’t been revealed yet).
Shakib Al Hasan, who was picked up by the Kolkata Knights Riders (KKR) in the auction, will miss that series to play the IPL and has been granted NOC as well by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). Mustafizur Rahman also found a buyer in Rajasthan Royals for this season. However, the left-arm pacer admitted that he would opt out of the IPL for national duty.
Despite Akram Khan, the BCB Cricket Operations Chairman, stating the Bangladesh players will be granted NOCs to play in the IPL, Mustafizur said that he will skip the IPL 2021 if he is picked in the Test squad that will tour Sri Lanka in April. He added that national duty is his first priority.
My first priority is to play for my country and if I am picked in the Test series against Sri Lanka, I will naturally play. If I am not picked then BCB will tell me that I am not included. At that point, if I am given NOC to play in the IPL then I will play but patriotism comes first for me,
Mustafizur Rahman was quoted saying as reported by Cricbuzz.
The schedule for the 14th edition of the IPL is not out yet but reports state that it is likely to start sometime in the second week of April.
