New Zealand players likely to miss start of IPL 2025 as Pakistan tour overlaps with the mega-rich competition

New Zealand players are likely to miss the start of the Indian Premier League (2025) season after the home calendar for the 2024-25 season was announced on Wednesday (July 17). Players like Devon Convey, Tom Latham and others could now miss the services at the start of the IPL 2025 which could affect their value in the upcoming mega-auctions. Pakistan will tour New Zealand in March and April after the ICC Champions Trophy concludes, meaning there won’t be too much space for the players between the tournaments.

What is the scenario?

After the Champions Trophy concludes in the second week of March (dates yet to be finalised), Pakistan will make the long journey to New Zealand to play three ODIs and five T20Is. The tour will officially begin on March 16 with the first T20I in Christchurch. The five-match T20I series will then conclude on March 26 with the ODI series next. The 50-over format will then start on March 29 and conclude on April 5 with the third and final ODI.

While the IPL 2025 schedule is not yet finalised, it is expected that the mega-rich league will kick off in the last week of March and conclude in the final week of May to accommodate rest for players before they play in the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final in London.

The WTCfinal will play a pivotal role in IPL fixture scheduling as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) remains in favour of no compromise with the mega-rich league. Assuming the WTC final takes place in Junefirst week, the IPL 2025 will likely start in March,meaning New Zealand players will miss out on the start.

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New Zealand players to miss out on big sum?

With New Zealand players likely to miss a couple of the initial weeks of the IPL, franchises will give a second thought on getting the players during the auctions. This year the mega auctions will once again take place with franchises hesitant to splashcash on players who are not available for the entire season. Last season,Aussie speedster Josh Hazlewood was not picked up by any franchise at the Dubai’s mini-auction afterhe announced that he wouldn’t play the entire season.