IPL-WEB-thumbnail-2

Picture Credit: Twitter

Team Australia have a packed schedule in front of them during the start of the IPL 2022. This could prevent the members of the Australian team from participating in the initial stage of the IPL. With several Australian cricketers doing well in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Mega Auction on Saturday, Cricket Australia’s (CA) national selector George Bailey has said the lucrative league was a “really good development opportunity” for his cricketers, but added that national duty will always take precedence.

The Test leg of Australia’s tour of Pakistan, featuring three matches, is scheduled to end on March 25. Australia will then play a three-match ODI series in Rawalpindi, which will also host the only T20I on April 5. In an email to the franchises on Wednesday, the IPL said Cricket Australia had permitted players, who were part of both the Test and white-ball leg in Pakistan, to travel from April 6. Also the Sheffield Shield final will be held on April 5 so the players that reach the final will be allowed to travel only after that.

Australia has the most players registered for the auction amongst all other foreign countries. The likes of David Warner (Delhi Capitals), Mitchell Marsh (Delhi Capitals), Marcus Stoinis (Lucknow Super Giants), Josh Hazelwood (Royal Challengers Bangalore), Pat Cummins (Kolkata Knight Riders) will all be seen in action in the cash-rich league.

George Bailey said, “So it will be about working with the individuals to ensure they’re getting the preparation they need, but we certainly won’t be releasing players to the IPL while Australia are playing.” Moreover, Australian players can also miss the end stages of IPL 2022 due to their tour of Sri Lanka but those dates aren’t confirmed as of now.