Twelve Australian players, including the likes of Aaron Finch, David Warner, and Steve Smith, will miss the IPL 2020 opener. They are committed to a 21-man tour of England, which features three T20 Internationals on September 4, 6, and 8, followed by three One Day Internationals on September 11, 13, and 16.
Aaron Finch, David Warner and Steve Smith are among 12 Australian players who will miss the start of the IPL 2020. The trio are part of the 21-man squad that will tour England for three T20Is and as many ODIs before the start of the tournament. The T20Is will be played on September 4, 6 and 8 followed by the three ODIs on September 11, 13 and 16.
Cricket Australia has allowed assistant coach Andrew McDonald to opt out of the England tour, enabling him to take up his role as head coach for the Rajasthan Royals.
In addition to Smith (RR), Warner (SRH), and Finch (RCB), several other Australians will miss the early IPL stages: Pat Cummins (KKR), Glenn Maxwell (Kings XI Punjab), Mitchell Marsh (SRH), Josh Phillipe and Kane Richardson (RCB), Alex Carey and Marcus Stoinis (Delhi Capitals), Josh Hazlewood (CSK), and Andrew Tye (RR).
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 IPL was rescheduled and will now begin on September 19 in the UAE. Per the official safety guidelines, everyone must undergo a test immediately upon landing in the UAE before heading to their accommodation. This is followed by a mandatory seven-day hotel quarantine, during which they will be tested three times. Only after receiving three negative results are they permitted to join the rest of the squad.