Punjab Kings Overseas Players Confirm Return for IPL Resumption

Punjab Kings Welcomes Back Overseas Stars

New Delhi, May 13: The Punjab Kings have announced that their international players, Xavier Bartlett, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Mitchell Owen, will rejoin the team for the remainder of the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), set to restart on May 17.

As reported by a sports news outlet, there is still no word on the status of other key overseas players such as Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Josh Inglis, and Aaron Hardie regarding their return to India. Notably, Jansen and Inglis have been selected for their respective national teams for the World Test Championship final, which is scheduled to take place on June 11 at Lord's.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had previously suspended the lucrative league last Thursday due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. Most of the Punjab Kings' overseas coaching staff, including head coach Ricky Ponting and assistants Brad Haddin and James Hopes, remained in India during this period. The franchise has instructed its players and support staff to gather within the next two days.

Training for the Punjab Kings is set to resume on Thursday in Jaipur as they prepare for their final three group stage matches against the Rajasthan Royals on May 18, the Delhi Capitals on May 24, and the Mumbai Indians on May 26.

Currently, Punjab Kings holds the third position in the standings with 15 points from 11 matches, putting them in a strong position to qualify for the playoffs. Their match against the Delhi Capitals at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala on May 8 was abandoned due to the aforementioned tensions.

Following the de-escalation of hostilities on Saturday, the BCCI engaged in discussions with government officials and other stakeholders. On Monday, the Indian cricket board announced the schedule for the remaining 17 matches.

Six venues have been selected for the upcoming 13 league matches, including Delhi, Jaipur, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. However, the locations for the playoff matches are still to be confirmed.

According to the revised schedule, Qualifier 1 is set for May 29, with the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 taking place on May 30 and June 1, respectively. The IPL's 18th season will conclude on June 3, with playoff venues yet to be determined.