Without overseas players, IPL will just be an enhanced version of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Wriddhiman Saha

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is pondering over the idea of hosting the remainder of the 14^th season of Indian Premier League (IPL) either in the UAE or England. Indian wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha feels the task of finishing the remaining 31 matches will be difficult as there is no window to host ahead of a busy cricketing schedule.

The 14^th season of IPL had come to a grinding halt and the BCCI officials had to suspend the tournament on May 4th due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases inside the bio-bubbles. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that it would be difficult for the England players to play IPL if it is resumed as they are bound to play cricket continuously from the month of June, which includes the Ashes series Down Under.

The 34-year-old feels with the majority of foreign players giving it a miss, the remainder of the IPL would just be an enhanced version of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Saha has his say on the fate of IPL

“Majority of the foreigners are from Australia, England and the West Indies. So I personally feel the resumption of the league this year is doubtful. Without the overseas players, IPL will just be an enhanced version of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy,” Saha told Sportskeeda.

The BCCI officials are scheduled to have a Special General Meeting (SGM) on May 29, which in all probability have the venue of the IPL. The BCCI officials are mulling over the idea of hosting IPL in the UAE as they feel it is tried and tested venue.

The other venue for the IPL is England in the month of September or October. Talks were going around that the BCCI officials had requested the ECB to advance the start of the Test series by a week. The ECB though later went on to clarify that the tour will go as per the original plan.

India are set to travel to England to the play World Test Championship final against New Zealand and a subsequent five-match Test series against England starting in the month of August.