BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla has clarified that the absence of foreign players will not affect the remaining matches of IPL 2021 Phase 2. He said that for the remaining 31 matches to be played in the UAE, BCCI is completely focused and determined to complete the tournament along with "whomever is available".
The BCCI had said in the SGM on Saturday that the remaining 31 matches of IPL 2021 Phase 2 will be played in the UAE in the September-October window.
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IPL 2021 Phase 2 will start from September 17 and the final of the tournament will be played on October 10. Official announcement of IPL 2021 Phase 2 dates and schedule will be made in the next 10 days.
"We have discussed that (availability of foreign players) issue also. Our main focus is on completing this edition of the IPL. It should not be left half way through. So whichever foreign players are available is fine. Whoever is not available, it is not going to stop us from hosting the tournament," Rajiv Shukla told Khaleej Times on Sunday.
"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," Shukla added.
On May 4, the BCCI had to postpone the 14th season of the Indian Premier League indefinitely after many players tested Covid-19 positive inside IPL bio-bubble.