IPL 2021: Hasaranga & Chameera get NOC: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Sunday announced that two IPL 2021 bound stars Dushmantha Chameera and Wanindu Hasaranga have been given No Objection Certificate (NOCs) to take join Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise in the UAE. However, RCB will miss the duo’s services if they qualify for the play-off stage starting October 10.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) roped in Sri Lanka’s Hasaranga and Chameera as replacements for Adam Zampa and Daniel Sams respectively for the IPL 2021.
IPL 2021 Phase 2: “The permission for the players was granted by the SLC in consultation with the Technical Advisory Committee. The ‘No Objection Certificate’ to the duo was issued for them to join the IPL teams starting from 15th September (following the completion of the South Africa Tour of Sri Lanka),” SLC said in a statement.
IPL 2021 Phase 2: Chameera, Hasaranga set to miss playoff stage
However, in what could be a blow for RCB, both Dushmantha Chameera and Wanindu Hasaranga will miss the play-off stage should the Virat Kohli-led team qualify. The two players will have to join the Sri Lanka squad on October 10 in Oman to play in the two warm-up games prior to the ICC men’s T20 World Cup qualifiers.
As the knockout stage begins on October 10, Dushmantha Chameera and Wanindu Hasaranga will miss out. The duo will join RCB’s camp in the UAE after the South Africa series that ends on September 14, five days before the IPL 2021 resumes in Dubai.
IPL 2021 Phase 2: Sri Lankan duo could miss opening game
However, the Dushmantha Chameera and Wanindu Hasaranga could also miss the opening match of Phase 2. As UAE requires a minimum of six-day quarantine period, they could miss the first two matches. RCB face Kolkata Knight Riders on September 20 and if BCCI is unable to arrange a bubble-to-bubble transfer and get quarantine exemption, they are likely to miss the first match.
Currently, BCCI is negotiating with the UAE authorities for a bubble-to-bubble transfer, similar to West Indies and CPL 2021. But unlike the Caribbean islands, Sri Lanka is currently on the red-list of the UAE and that could force them to spend six days in quarantine.
IPL 2021 Phase 2: The 14th season, which was postponed in May this year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, will resume on September 19 in Dubai with a blockbuster clash between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.
The action will shift to Abu Dhabi where Kolkata Knight Riders will square off against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
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