The suspended Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to resume on May 17, but several international cricketers have opted not to return for the remainder of the tournament. Among them is Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, who has informed his franchise, Delhi Capitals, that he will not be rejoining the squad.
Starc, who previously played for Kolkata Knight Riders, was Delhi’s leading wicket-taker this season with 14 wickets in 11 matches. However, he has cited preparations for the ICC World Test Championship Final on June 11, where Australia will be competing, as the main reason for his withdrawal.
Security concerns have also played a role in some players pulling out. Rising Australian spinner Fraser-McGurk has decided not to return, and Delhi Capitals have replaced him with Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman. Though the franchise has requested a release for Mustafizur to play three matches, it remains uncertain whether Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will grant it.
While some Australians have withdrawn, others are returning. Pat Cummins, captain of the Australian Test side, and teammate Travis Head are set to join Sunrisers Hyderabad, although the team is already out of playoff contention.
Other players such as Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis are also expected to return. However, there is still no clear update from Royal Challengers Bangalore regarding the availability of Faf du Plessis. Meanwhile, although Tristan Stubbs will be available for the IPL, several other South African players have opted out due to their national Test commitments.
The IPL was suspended for a week due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. One match was canceled in Dharamshala, initially reported as a power outage. However, the underlying reason was later revealed to be linked to a retaliatory strike by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir, not far from Dharamshala. In response, India carried out a missile strike near the food court adjacent to Rawalpindi Stadium, leading to the suspension of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) as well. Both leagues are now scheduled to resume on May 17.
