IPL teams club together to get SA players to the UAE

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises with South African players contracted faced an expensive and complicated process to get their talent to the UAE but have agreed that teamwork makes the dream work.

The Proteas will cast a keen eye on the tournament for a number of reason not least that AB de Villiers will be involved and his experiences might impact his willingness to make himself available for the rescheduled T20 World Cup.

IPL to charter one flight for all SA players

IPL teams with South Africans on the books include the Royal Challengers Bangalore who have de Villiers tied down and the Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. 

The players are used to travelling together but wouldn’t normally travel together for the IPL unless they happened to be on tour shortly before the event.

Government travel restrictions remain in place in South Africa with the caveat that South Africans can fly internationally for business which would include professional cricket.

An unnamed IPL official told reporters that chartering a flight to the UAE for all players based in South Africa and sharing the cost makes the most sense of all the options available.

“We are aware that the South African players are somewhat stuck and we will take a call on them after the IPL GC meeting on Sunday. 

“Informally we have had discussions and it is not restricted to one or two franchises. 

“Almost all the franchises have top stars coming in from South Africa and it only makes sense to have them all fly into the UAE on a chartered plane and the franchises share the expense. 

“A final call can only be taken by the franchises after Sunday.

“Why would we want one plane to bring a player for one franchise and another for another franchise? At a time when travel restrictions are on and everyone is moving very cautiously, it is only practical that we have them all come in together in one plane,” the official said.

Travel problems

A small group of South African players including Tabraiz Shamsi and Rassie van der Dussen were forced to pull out of the Caribbean Premier League which starts in August and will be played entirely on the island of Trinidad. Only Imran Tahir, who had spent lockdown in Pakistan will make the trip to the West Indies.

India’s own travel restrictions have prevented officials from travelling to the UAE to inspect facilities and reach agreements on safety and health protocols.

A six-week IPL tournament is expected to get underway in the UAE on 19 September 2020.