CRICKET POLL

Mitchell Starc has confirmed he won't be returning to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this season. After keeping Delhi Capitals franchise in tenterhooks for close to three days, the Australia pacer is believed to have informed the franchise on Thursday that he is unable to join. He is understood to have sent an email to the team.

Bought for Rs 11.75 crore by the franchise, the 35-year-old pacer hitherto featured in all 11 games of the season for DC, picking up 14 wickets at an average of 26. His availability has been crucial to the team, especially as they stand on the edge of qualifying for the playoffs. The team is in the fifth place, with 13 points from 11 games.

Being a big-match player, the franchise had invested a lot of hope in the pacer. However, the recent turn of events in India - particularly the drone attacks from across the Pakistan border - is believed to have left him shaken.

He and fellow Australian Jake Fraser-McGurk were particularly the most disturbed players in the situation, which also involved a long and tense bus-and-train journey from Dharamsala to Delhi last week.

Delhi Capitals are now banking on Mustafizur Rahman. The Bangladesh pacer, brought in as a replacement for Jake Fraser-McGurk, is expected to play a key role for the franchise. Despite some controversy surrounding his NOC, the 29-year-old left-arm seamer is understood to be available. Mustafizur has played 54 IPL matches across seven seasons since making his debut in 2016.

Franchise sources say other foreign players will be returning to India to complete their IPL engagements.

Hazlewood to rejoin RCB squad?

Meanwhile, according to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, Josh Hazlewood could rejoin Royal Challengers Bengaluru ahead of the IPL playoffs. RCB are on the brink of qualifying for the playoffs which start on May 29, and the 34-year-old Australian pacer, said a report, "will spend next week completing rehabilitation in Brisbane on his shoulder before travelling to India for the playoffs."

Hazlewood's availability will be a major boost for RCB's chances as his replacement in the playing XI, Lungi Ngidi, is expected to leave IPL after the league stage. Hazlewood has claimed 18 wickets in 10 games at an impressive average of 17.28 and at a highly impactful economy rate of 8.44. RCB are in second position in the league table with three more games left. Cricbuzz has reached out to RCB for confirmation.