Malolan to miss CPL due to IPL commitment

Malolan, who is also the chief talent scout at IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), will, however, continue as strategy coach for SKN Patriots, chalking out plans from a remote location. With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) formally announcing that IPL 2020 would be held at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) between September 19 and November 10, teams are keen on landing in the host nation by the end of this month.

 As the tentative dates of Royal Challengers’ preparatory camp will clash with the schedule of CPL – set to start on August 18 and end on September 10 – Malolan decided not to fly to the Caribbean for the six-team competition. While interacting with DT Next last month, the 31-year-old had said that his goal is to lead SKN Patriots to its first title.

 “The objective is to win the trophy. Patriots possesses an exciting mix of players. I feel we have some of the best available West Indians in our squad. And, that give us a wonderful core,” Malolan had told this newspaper.

 Now that he can’t be physically present with the SKN Patriots family, Chennai-based Malolan will look to mastermind his side’s triumph virtually, from a far-off place. During his IPL assignment with Virat Kohli-led RCB, Malolan will work under director of cricket operations Mike Hesson and head coach Simon Katich.

 Meanwhile, Barbados Tridents strategic consultant TA Adhishwar, also from Tamil Nadu, is serving the mandatory 14-day quarantine period in Trinidad and Tobago – the region where the entire CPL Season 8 is scheduled to take place.