Whoever is not available that will not stop us to conduct the remaining matches of IPL season 14: Rajeev Shukla

It is officially decided now that the remaining matches of IPL season 14 will be conducted in the month of September-October window in UAE.

There still remains a question mark that whether top overseas will be available in the month of September-October or not as overseas players have their International commitments.

The other reason behind the non-participation of overseas players is their respective board wants players to remain fresh for the upcoming T20 World Cup scheduled in India at the end of this year.

However, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla clearly stated that the cash-rich league will go ahead as per plan. He added that the overseas players who will not take part in the remaining matches of the cash-rich league will be replaced by other overseas players who are available.

“We have discussed that [foreign players] issue also. Our main focus is on completing this edition of the IPL. It should not be left halfway through. So, whichever foreign players are available is fine. Whoever is not available, it is not going to stop us from hosting the tournament.

“The Indian players are there, foreign players are there, but few foreign players will not be available. As I said, we have to complete our tournament. So the franchises will definitely look for other players. Whoever is available, we are going to have the tournament with them. That’s our policy,” Rajeev Shukla told Khaleej Times.

Shukla concluded by stating that the only reason why England was not considered as the backup option due to rainy conditions in UK.

“They are all very happy. From day one, they have been backing the UAE. There were some media reports about England [hosting the remaining matches], but there’s a weather problem in England where it rains a lot,” Shukla, who held the post of IPL chairman, concluded.