IPL 2022: Overseas players who are unlikely to be available in the first week
The IPL 2022 gets underway on March 26 with the last edition’s finalists Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders locking horns in the curtain-raiser. All the 10 participating teams will be looking to have a memorable campaign having rebuilt their respective squads at the last month’s IPL 2022 mega auction.
Meanwhile, it remains to be noted that a few overseas players will not be available for the first week of the tournament due to national commitments. Without further ado, here’s a look at five of them.
Pat Cummins:
Pat Cummins was bought back by KKR for INR 7.25 crore at the IPL 2022 mega auction. He is currently leading the Australian Test side against Pakistan in the neighbouring country. The pace sensation is not a part of the ODI and T20I series of the bilateral tour.
However, as per the central contract rules of Cricket Australia (CA), he cannot play till the end of the bilateral series on April 5. Thus, Cummins could miss the first week of IPL 2022.
Kagiso Rabada:
Kagiso Rabada has been roped in by the Punjab Kings for INR 9.25 crore for IPL 2022 and he is expected to spearhead their pace attack. PBKS could, however, miss the backbone of their bowling lineup for a while.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) are yet to announce the Test squad against Bangladesh and if Rabada features in the list then he might not be available till April 13.
Marcus Stoinis:
Marcus Stoinis was one of the new entrants in Lucknow Super Giants pre-auction drafts along with skipper KL Rahul and leggie Ravi Bishnoi and was bought for INR 9.2 crore. But, he will also be missing the first week of IPL 2022.
The star all-rounder has been named in the Australian squad for the white-ball series against Pakistan which ends on April 5.
Jonny Bairstow:
Jonny Bairstow has been roped in by Punjab Kings for INR 6.75 crore for the upcoming edition of the marquee tournament. He is currently representing England in the three-match Test series against England that concludes on March 28.
Thus, the English limited-overs specialist will definitely miss Punjab’s opening fixture against RCB on March 27.
David Warner: After being released by SRH, Delhi Capitals bought David Warner for INR 6.25 crore at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month.
Warner is currently participating in Australia’s Test series against Pakistan and while he is not a part of the following limited-overs series, CA’s central contract rules do not allow him to be a part of the cash-rich event till April 5.
