IPL 2020 is expected to start from 19th of September. But some IPL teams may miss out on few key overseas players at least for the first week. There are a lot of T20 contracts and national commitments for the overseas players just before the IPL.

Sri Lanka Premier League

From 28th August Sri Lanka will start their Sri Lankan Premier League with the final on 20th September. Hence Sri Lankan players Lasith Malinga (MI) and Isuru Udana (RCB) will arrive late to UAE, therefore will miss the first few matches.

Check out: IPL Schedule & Time Table this year

Australia Tour of England

Australia and England players also might arrive late. Australia and England have one day bilateral series just before the IPL. The final ODI will be played on 16th september therefore the players might miss the first few games. If the players travel even the next day of the final ODI (17th sept) they will have to undergo 72 hours of quarantine period.

The players which might miss out 1st week of IPL due to Australia – England series are as follows:

  1. Ben Stokes [RR]                        
  2. Jos Buttler [RR]
  3. Jofra Archer [RR]
  4. Steve Smith [RR]
  5. Sam Curran [CSK]
  6. Josh Hazlewood [CSK]
  7. Joson Roy [DC]
  8. Chiris Woakes [DC]
  9. Alex Carrey [DC]
  10. Marcus Stoinis [DC]
  11. Glen Maxwell [KXIP]
  12. Pat Cummins [KKR]
  13. Eoin Morgan [KKR]
  14. Ton Banton [KKR]
  15. Moeen Ali [RCB]
  16. Aaron Finch [RCB]
  17. Jonny Bairstow [SRH]
  18. David Warner [SRH]

Proteas Government Problems

South African players also might arrive late. Due to the rapid increase in coronavirus cases, the South African government has not opened international flights yet. Star players like AB De Villiers and Quiton de Kock might miss the 1st week.

The following Proteas players might reach late.

  1. Lungi Ngidi [CSK]
  2. Imran Tahir [CSK]
  3. AB De Villers [RCB]
  4. Kagiso Rabada [DC]
  5. Quiton de Kock [MI]
  6. David Miller [RR]
  7. Dale Steyn [RCB]

The franchise owners and team management will be worried about the fact that a total of 27 overseas players might miss the first week of IPL. Some teams will miss many players while some teams might miss few. Teams like Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore which are overilient on their overseas players will suffer a lot whereas teams like Mumbai Indians  and Sunrisers Hyderabad with strong Indian core won’t suffer much. Here the total number of  players missed by each team:

  1. RR – 5
  2. RCB – 5
  3. DC –  5
  4. CSK – 4
  5. KKR – 3
  6. MI – 2
  7. SRH – 2
  8. KXIP – 1

The absence of overseas players in the first week will be discussed in the ICC governing council meeting on Sunday. There is a possibility that the starting dates might be pushed ahead to allow every franchise enough time to accommodate their overseas players.