Foreign players reluctant to join IPL amid security concerns

NEW DELHI: India, which has refused to play the Champions Trophy 2025 matches in host nation Pakistan citing ‘security concerns’, is now facing reluctance from international cricketers to travel to the ‘unsafe’ country for the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the tournament resumes on Saturday.

The first international player, who opted out of the rest of the IPL is Australian batsman Jake Fraser-McGurk while uncertainty lingers over the participation of other overseas players.

Fraser-McGurk announced Wednesday that he is skipping the remaining matches of the IPL, due to “personal reasons”.

Several foreign players are deciding on whether to return to the lucrative IPL which restarts after its week-long suspension following the ceasefire between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan over the weekend after days of fighting.

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Fifth-placed Delhi Capitals said in a statement they would replace Fraser-McGurk, who has scored 55 runs in six IPL games after being signed for 90 million Indian rupees ($1.06 million), by bringing in Bangladesh seamer Mustafizur Rahman.

Cricket Australia said on Tuesday it was working with the Indian board (BCCI) on security arrangements, with several of their players including pacers Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc pondering their return to the country after skipping IPL.

British media reports said English players involved in the league would meet with the Professional Cricketers’ Association before taking a call.

Chennai Super Kings’ Jamie Overton is also out of the IPL, Indian media reported on Wednesday, with the all-rounder selected by England for their white-ball home series against the West Indies from May 29.

The IPL final will be held on June 3, eight days before the World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa at Lord’s.