WCA concerned players cannot make ‘informed decisions' over return to IPL action
The World Cricketers' Association has expressed concern over a lack of transparency over security arrangements at the Indian Premier League, leaving players struggling to make 'informed decisions' over returning.
The IPL and the Pakistan Super League were paused last week as military hostilities between the two nations escalated sharply, but a ceasefire means both tournaments have announced plans to resume.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) plans to hold its final 17 games between May 17 and June 3, in six approved venues, with franchises now attempting to reassemble their playing squads.
There are 10 English players among the overseas contingent who must decide whether to fly back just days after leaving as tensions spiked in the region.
Their number includes former white-ball captain Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell and Phil Salt, all of whom have the additional issue of a potential clash with the revised knockout stages and England's ODI series against the West Indies.
Opinion among overseas players is understood to be split and Tom Moffat, chief executive of the global players' union, is worried about the flow of information from organisers.
He told the PA news agency: 'With respect to the IPL, without players and their national governing bodies having oversight and engagement on security arrangements, it's difficult for players to make fully informed decisions.
'This engagement would normally happen efficiently through the players' chosen representatives as players are not security experts and nor should they be expected to simply trust the system.
'We know there are differing levels of comfort from individual players and given the unique circumstances there would be an expectation from all reasonable people in our sport that any decision made by players should not be held against them.
'Cricket is secondary to the health and safety of the people in both countries, including the players competing in both tournaments.'
The latter point appears to pertain to the IPL's recent rule changes that penalise players who pull out of the tournament for reasons other than injury by banning them from subsequent editions. It is not yet clear if that would be applied in the current circumstances.
PA understands the Professional Cricketers' Association has hosted regular calls with those affected and had scheduled another for Tuesday, reflecting new independent security advice.
Rob Key, director of men's cricket at the England and Wales Cricket Board, has yet to announce whether English players will be available for the entirety of the new IPL schedule, leaving open the possibility of a clash for those who would otherwise have featured in the squad to face the West Indies. Buttler, Salt, Bethell, Will Jacks, Reece Topley and Liam Livingstone could all be caught up in that conundrum.
Moffat, meanwhile, is happier with the plans for the PSL resumption, stating the Pakistan Cricket Board had 'engaged positively with players and their representatives on restart arrangements'.
The competition will restart on the same day as the IPL, May 17, and conclude eight days later. With just eight matches in total still to play, it is even more doubtful that foreign players, including seven from England, will be tempted back.
PCB chair Mohsin Naqvi announced the news on X, posting: 'HBL PSL X picks up from where it left off! Six teams, zero fear. Let the aura take over as we unite and celebrate the spirit of cricket. Best of luck to all the teams!'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Aussies stage huge comeback in World Test Championship final as Steve Smith surpasses Don Bradman - and South Africa make a shocking mistake
South Africa are ruing a costly non-review after Australia 's pace juggernaut hit back during a rollicking first day of the World Test Championship final at Lord's. Kagsio Rabada (5-51) threw a mighty first punch, justifying Proteas captain Temba Bavuma's call to bowl first with his 17th five-wicket haul to help skittle Australia for 212. But rank underdogs South Africa, aiming to break a 27-year title drought in ICC tournaments, were left reeling at 4-43 by stumps. Their batters left the famous London venue in a daze on Wednesday evening (Thursday AEST) following a masterful final session of bowling from Australia's famed pace trio - Mitchell Starc (2-10), Pat Cummins (1-14), and Josh Hazlewood (1-10). South Africa earlier used two unsuccessful reviews on allrounder Beau Webster - which were ruled as umpire's call - but failed to refer a third which would have had the towering Tasmanian trapped lbw for only eight. No.6 Webster, in just his fourth Test, went on to top score for Australia with a career-best 72. South Africa's Wiaan Mulder grimaces as he's hit for four by Beau Webster after his team made a huge error with a review on the Tasmanian all-rounder Their eventual total could have been well below 200 had Webster departed early given Australia lost 5-20 to end their innings. '(Squad member) Corbin Bosch came down to fine leg, and he says it was out,' Rabada recalled when he discovered the Proteas had blown an opportunity. 'I was like, 'oh man!'. It was a bit annoying. 'He (Webster) didn't start off too well out there. 'Looked like he was going to get out any ball, but I guess his positive intent got him through.' Steve Smith (66) was still coughing after battling through flu to put on a crucial 79-run stand with Webster after Australia were limping at 4-67. 'It looked pretty good to me from the other end. I don't know what happened actually,' Smith said of South Africa not using a review. 'I know Beau was in a little bit of pain; I don't think it actually hit his pad, I think it just hit his leg. 'They had a chance to use a referral and didn't.' Bavuma (three) will resume in the middle on Thursday with David Bedingham (eight). Smith, who became the highest-scoring visiting batter in Tests at Lord's, was left fuming at himself for falling to part-time spinner Aiden Markram when in reach of a 37th century. 'I'm still trying to fathom how I've done that,' said Smith, putting his head into his hands. It was all about the Rabada redemption story early in the day, running riot underneath overcast skies in London by taking two wickets in four balls. Rabada, in his first Test since serving a one-month ban for testing positive to cocaine, removed Usman Khawaja (a 20-ball duck) and Cameron Green (four) in the seventh over. In his first Test since March 2024, fit-again Green hit his first delivery to the boundary at fine leg in a promising start. But the 26-year-old was gone just two balls later, edging a Rabada rocket to slips where he was superbly caught by Markram. Marnus Labuschagne, in his first innings as a Test opener, started brightly to get through until drinks. But as he often has during the last two years, the under-pressure Queenslander struggled to keep the score ticking over. Labuschagne got caught between playing a shot and leaving a Marco Jansen delivery, nicking off for 17 from 56 balls. The 30-year-old, who was once described as having 'opening-itis', won the battle to be Khawaja's fifth opening partner in 18 months over teenager Sam Konstas. The spectre of Konstas, one of Australian cricket's rising stars, will now loom even larger for the upcoming three-Test tour of the West Indies. Labuschagne's last Test century came back in July 2023 at Manchester. Travis Head, who starred with a matchwinning 163 in Australia's WTC final triumph in 2023, was out on the final ball before lunch after wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne hung on to a screamer.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
NBA star looks unrecognizable with new look as he enters Chinese monastery after injury scare
NBA star Victor Wembanyama is currently in the middle of a retreat at a Chinese monastery where he looks unrecognizable with a shaved head. The 7-foot-3 Frenchman is in the middle of the 10-day exercise trying to stay as isolated as possible. Wembanyama can be seen praying in grey robes as well as running alongside a forest. The San Antonio Spurs sensation appeared in China in one of his first public appearances since his injury scare. Wembanyama was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in right shoulder in February, ending his season, with the Spurs believing it to be an 'isolated condition.' A vein thrombosis occurs when blood begins to clot in deeper veins in the body. The issue can become seriously dangerous because those clogs could loosen and end up in the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism. Wemby is in China beginning his 'journey of inner discipline, focus, and mind-body harmony' at the Shaolin Temple According to a Buddhist monk, Wemby is on a ''Summer Retreat'' tradition that is tied back to ancient Buddhist practices (via @SpursGDP, @SpursReporter) — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 11, 2025 NBA star Victor Wembanyama is currently in the middle of a retreat at a Chinese monastery It is almost always treated with blood-thinning medication, which typically precludes a player from participating in a contact sport such as basketball. Athletes who are involved with contact sports are typically advised to avoid using such medication because of the heightened chance of bleeding. Wembanyama's injury came just days after first All-Star Game appearance. The 21-year-old Frenchman was the NBA's Rookie of the Year in 2023-24, as well as an All-Defensive First Team selection after leading the league in blocked shots. He was averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.8 blocks and 3.7 assists; the only other player to finish a season averaging all that was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975-76. The Spurs are positioned to make a jump with Wembanyama in his third year in the NBA, as he might not be the only superstar on his team come October. San Antonio is believed to be a major play in the sweepstakes for both Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
BBC News
4 hours ago
- BBC News
Trivia-busting Rabada joins elite Lord's club of two
South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has joined an elite Lord's club of any player who takes five wickets or scores a century in a Test match has their name etched onto an honours board in gold the first day of the World Test Championship (WTC) final, only one other Test player in the storied 141-year history of Lord's has appeared on the honours board in both the home and away dressing quirky mark of cricket trivia belonged to legendary West Indies opener Gordon knocks of 214 not out and 103 against England in 1984 and 1988 respectively adorn the board in the away dressing less well known is the fact he is also on the home dressing room for the 122 he made for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) against the Rest of the World in South Africa allocated the home dressing room for the WTC final at the home of cricket, Rabada's five-wicket haul was enough to see him join Greenidge in the exclusive club.A piece of sticky batting tape with Rabada's name written on it in pen has been attached to the board for his figures of 5-51, as is the tradition for players during matches. The gold lettering should soon with no place for neutral Tests at Lord's on the honours board since they were refurbished in 2018 it may well be stencilled on there permanently by the signwriter."It was cool to have it in the home changing room now," said Rabada, whose name is on the board in the away dressing room for the 5-52 he took for his country in a Test against England in 2022. Did England great Broad help Rabada? Perhaps he benefited from some insider trading from the fast bowlers' union to achieve the a savvy move, South Africa engaged the services of Stuart Broad - a man who is on the honours board for batting and bowling - in the build-up to this did so on the premise the former England bowler could impart some pearls of wisdom on a ground where he took 113 must have been eagerly taking notes – CricViz data showed that 84% of Rabada's deliveries on day one were on a good length, which is the most of any innings in his dismissal of Australia opener Usman Khawaja with a delivery from round the wicket which squared the left-hander up and took the edge was Broadian by nature."Stuart gave us a few pointers on certain field placings and in general with the conditions with cloud cover and wind," acknowledged Rabada, who has the second-best strike-rate (39.1) in the history of the game of bowlers with 100 wickets or more (beaten only by England's George Lohmann, who took his wickets every 34.1 balls between 1886 and 1896)."The ball was nipping a bit and at times moving off the slope quite a lot. I still felt batters could get in. We thought we should have bowled them out for 160 but that's just the way the game goes." There was also a redemption element of sorts to Rabada's efforts with the 30-year-old fast bowler had come into the match with something of a cloud hanging over him having recently served a short ban for recreational drug use."It wasn't my best moment, as I have alluded to," Rabada said, in a matter-of-fact manner."Life moves on. Every game that I play for South Africa, I try to do my best."On a day when 14 wickets fell at Lord's it would be easy to assume the South Africa quick bowler's five-wicket haul could be attributed to other factors."For day one of a Lord's Test match, it was below average in terms of movement through the air, and just about average for deviation off the pitch," said TMS scorer Andy Zaltzman."So that comes down to quality of bowling and consistency."Rabada also moved above legendary fast bowler Allan Donald and up to fourth on South Africa's all-time Test wicket-takers list as he took his tally to 332 three men above him on South Africa's all-time list are Makhaya Ntini (390), Shaun Pollock (421) and Dale Steyn (439)."As a player, growing up and representing South Africa, I have been inspired by those who have come before and seen what they have done on the big stage," he added."As a kid, I was inspired to do the same thing. To be on that list is something special and long may it continue."
