Sydney: One-day international series scheduled in Australia against Afghanistan in India has been postponed, cricket boards from competing countries said on Sunday, leaving free players to fulfill their Premier League commitment (IPL).
Three days a day it was supposed to take place in front of the World Cup Twenty20 but the hidden format tournament that was kept secret be transferred to the United Arab Emirates because of the prevalence of Covid-19 in India.
Afghan Cricket Board (ACB) “and Cricket Australia agreed to postpone tours given the complexity of travel, quarantine period and found a suitable location for matches that remember the relocation of the T20 World Cup to UAE,” said the board in a statement.
“With the World Cup moving from India to the UAE, ACB will continue to explore the possibility of hosting proposed T20i Tri-Series involving Australia and West Indies.” The IPL was suspended indefinitely in May after several players and the bedroom staff were tested positive for Covid-19.
The remaining matches will now be played in the UAE from September 19 to October 15.
Despite the proximity of the tournament to the T20 World Cup, Cricket Australia said it would give permission for their players to take part and fulfill the contract that benefited them.
“There are no objection certificates that will be given to Australian players who want to participate in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) that will be played in the UAE,” said Cricket Australia.
While Australia Fast Bowler Pat Cummins has said he will lose the conclusion of IPL because the birth of his first child who will come, other top players such as David Warner and Steve Smith are now free to participate.
The Twenty20 World Cup will take place in the UAE and Oman from October 17 to November 14.