Australian head coach Justin Langer doesn’t want to leave any stone unturned in an attempt to help world cricket get back on its feet. The present situation is dire but Langer feels that it is his team and board responsibility to try everything that is possible at this tumultuous time. Langer is open to tour England for the limited overs series and he feels that Cricket Australia must allow its players to travel for the Indian Premier League, wherever it may take place.
Langer’s views on the IPL differ from former Australian captain Ian Chappell and Mark Taylor. Chappell had recently said that the big Australian players who are paid well by the board should prefer to play Sheffield Shield in place of the IPL as their obligation is to Cricket Australia.
Meanwhile, 13 Australian players have signed up for the glamorous T20 league. Players like David Warner, Steven Smith, and Pat Cummins have already stated that they want to play in the IPL if the T20 World Cup doesn’t take place.
In fact, the Australian players are asked to start training for the England tour and thus it has hinted the T20 World Cup will be postponed by ICC on July 17 in their board’s member meeting.
Langer stated they must try to tour England and do whatever that is best for the game.
“I think we have to go to England. There’s lots of challenges, of course, but we have to find solutions to make sure that can happen if possible,” Langer was quoted as saying by Daily Telegraph.
“That’s my view. I think for the health of world cricket. If things out of control happen and we can’t end up going, at least we can say we’ve done everything in our power to make it happen.”
It is also known the Australian players like Glenn Maxwell, David Warner, Steven Smith and Pat Cummins will add a spark in the IPL. Langer added the Australian board must give a green signal to its players to play in the lucrative T20 league.
“I think we have to. Talking frankly. I’ll always look for win-win situations and hopefully we do that when we get some clarity on what’s happening with the schedule,” Langer said.
It is hard for any board to commit anything at this stage. BCCI will try its best to host the IPL and similarly Australia might travel to England in September for the limited-overs series. As Langer rightly puts, it is essential that all cricket boards support each other at this arduous time.
