No De Villiers, Amla, Morris in next year's IPL?

Photo: AFP

New Delhi: AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada may not come to India for next year’s IPL. No, this is not a social media hoax. There is a realistic chance of Cricket South Africa (CSA) not allowing its players to participate in next year’s IPL.

The revenue-sharing dispute with the ICC has not seen an end and the BCCI has already got another fresh problem on its platter. CSA chief executive, Haroon Lorgat has apparently given BCCI a gentle reminder about confirming India’s tour to South Africa later this year or else he will not guarantee participation of South African players in the following IPL.

An already distraught BCCI on the other hand has decided to ‘ignore’ CSA’s request citing that threats to pull out of IPL just to confirm India’s tour in December would not be entertained in any manner.

"I didn't even bother to communicate. We will communicate when the time is right," BCCI CEO Rahul Johri was quoted as saying by The Times of India.  

If BCCI does not change its stance and CSA also holds its ground then there is a possibility that the next edition of IPL will be without the likes of De Villiers, Duminy, Morris and Amla.

CSA’s decision of not extending the participation window for the South African players in IPL 10 has already irked BCCI.  The tournament has lost a fare bit of sheen with some of the important players going back to South Africa on May 8 for Champions Trophy preparations a week before the play-offs. 

"The South Africans were scheduled to leave on May 8. So what's the whole chatter about? I saw no reason why I should have replied to Lorgat's communication," Johri added.

Notably, South Africa is launching its very own version of IPL, in the form Global Destination T20 League in November this year. It wanted India to tour for a full fledged four-Test match series on December. 

Coming back to IPL, it is still not clear whether the tournament will witness a fresh bidding on 2018 or not. Two defunct franchises Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals are slated to return. Keeping all the uncertainties in mind, this fresh concern of a South African pull out will only add to the unanswered question bank of the cash-rich league.