Fixture threatens T20 WC as well

There is worry everywhere regarding the third edition of the Indian Premier League, first with none of the team franchisees opting for players from Pakistan despite the fact that they are the current world T20 champions. This not only deprived the Pakistani players a chance to showcase their talent on the big stage but also deprived the cricket fans at large in India who would have loved to see atleast Shahid Afridi belting the bowlers from the opposition team. Then, following this turn around, the PCB chief Ijaz Butt decides not to send PAK players for the Champions League 2010.

This despite the ICC not zeroing in on holding the tournament in India. Anyway, that was a different issue though a major one as far as the tournament is concerned. And then, the recent development in this regard being that players from India will find it hard to cope up with the schedule of the IPL which is due on March 12^th which is just more than a week from now onwards. The news has its say that due to the heavy schedule of the tournament, players from India who will be playing on the first few days of the tournament will have to compromise with their practice sessions.

The Deodhar trophy will be is scheduled between 6^th to 9^th of this month, which is just 3 days from the start of the first match of the IPL. Luckily, the first day of the tournament consists of only one match that is between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Deccan Chargers. Thanks to the inauguration ceremony that will take place prior to the start of the game which rules out the possibility of another game like the days that follow. Moreover, it is the Kolkata Knight Riders who will have to face the heat for two reasons. One, because of the down to earth performance in the previous two editions of the same and two, for playing the game on the 1st day itself.

The players of both the teams viz the Deccan Chargers and the Kolkata Knight Riders will have to choose between relishing the take off of the tournament after the fireworks & dance parties and playing their first match. Added to these issues is the fact that the ICC world T20 is due to start from 30^th of April that is just 5 days after the IPL gets over. Though only two teams make it to the finals, the rest of the players would be exhausted from playing for almost a month and a half. And it is the players from New Zealand & Sri Lanka who will have to take the beating for, they would be the ones who'd be taking the field on the 1^st day itself.