IPL 2023 or Pakistan tour? The New Zealand cricketers will not be forced to skip IPL for international cricket next year and will be given a free hand to decide their fate. New Zealand are set for twin tours of Pakistan in 2022/23 and will play a total of 2 Tests, 8 ODIs and 5 T20Is.
The 2nd leg of the series will be played at the same time as IPL 2023 and there could be a case that players might have to miss IPL. Not the board, but the players will decide if they wish to play IPL or international cricket.
“As of our understanding, our full-strength side will go to Pakistan. I haven’t talked to players and their association further in this regard,” David White, the CEO of New Zealand Cricket, was quoted as saying. “But, players will be allowed to play in the IPL. They will be free to make a choice between the IPL and the Pakistan tour.”
The first leg of New Zealand tour of Pakistan includes 2 Test matches and 3 ODIs to be played from December 27 to January 15. After the series, NZ will return home to host England and Sri Lanka. After the SL series, which will conclude in April, the players will again land in Pakistan for 5 T20Is and as many ODIs to be played from April 13 to May 7.
During IPL 2022, the NZ players faced the same problem and they were issued NOCs to participate in the T20 league instead of playing against Netherlands. Last year as well, the IPL-contracted players chose to represent their franchises instead of travelling to Pakistan for the bilateral series. There’s still ample time left for IPL and the players are likely to take a call on it next year.
This will be NZ’s first tour of Pakistan since 2002. The Tom Latham-led side did land in Pakistan in 2021 but pulled out before the first ODI due to a security alert.
