KKR captain Eoin Morgan confirms participation in second half of IPL
Eoin Morgan has confirmed he will return to the Kolkata Knight Riders for the rescheduled second half of the IPL in the UAE in September-October following the postponement of England's limited-overs tour to Bangladesh.
Speaking after his London Spirit side were beaten by Northern Superchargers in the men's Hundred at Lord's on Tuesday night, Morgan confirmed that he intended to return to captain the Knight Riders in the rest of the IPL, and said that the involvement of other England players with contracts in the tournament would be a matter of personal choice.
"It's a complete individual decision," Morgan said. "I think it was a win-win either way. If we went to Bangladesh we'd play in conditions that are foreign to us. If some guys go to the IPL, they'll play in similar conditions [to the World Cup] or for guys that need a rest, they take a rest.
"We've a lot of cricket to play between now and then. We've planned on the tour going ahead - that's been part of our planning for a long time now - but equally, given the nature in which we now compete and live our lives, it's not a bad thing for guys to either take time off or go to the IPL if they feel refreshed and have enough energy."
Jos Buttler, the Rajasthan Royals man, however, wasn't too sure about making the trip to the UAE. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said, "I don't know, to be honest. My family life is due to change - we've got a second child due to be born in early September. So unless I want to get away from a few sleepless nights, I might have to be at home."
England were due to play three ODIs and three T20Is in Bangladesh in September-October but the ECB and the BCB released statements on Tuesday morning confirming that they had "mutually decided" to postpone the tour until March 2023. The IPL is due to resume on September 19 after its postponement midway through the season earlier this year, with the tour's postponement opening up the opportunity for England's white-ball players to take part ahead of the T20 World Cup in the UAE.
England's only two remaining T20I fixtures before the World Cup starts on October 17 are due to be played in Pakistan on October 14 and 15, with the ECB and the PCB both confident that the tour will go ahead. The IPL final is also scheduled for October 15, creating a possible clash for players whose franchises reach that stage of the tournament.