According to reports, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering putting a “shadow ban” on Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi players for the next auctions. Due to national team obligations, players from these two countries will miss the opening matches of the IPL in 2023. Sri Lanka is currently engaged in a white-ball series against New Zealand but Bangladesh players are arriving late in India due to their ongoing home series against Ireland. This has caused the BCCI and IPL franchisees frustration.
In addition to missing the beginning of IPL 2023, Bangladesh players may also be unavailable for the three-match ODI series against Ireland from May 9 to 14 due to their journey to England. This has enraged the BCCI and franchises, who are now close to imposing a shadow ban on players from certain nations. According to reports, the BCCI is especially dissatisfied with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for delaying the release of its players’ NOCs (No Objection Certificates).
The BCCI and franchises are reportedly infuriated by the BCB’s actions and believe that players should not register if they cannot fulfill their IPL obligations. This is likely to discourage teams from selecting Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan players in the future. On March 31, 2023, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will play Gujarat Giants (GT) in the opening match of the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL). It remains to be seen how the issue with Bangladesh and Sri Lankan players will evolve throughout the competition.
