England’s Liam Livingstone will not be playing for Punjab Kings in their opening IPL match against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 1, as he has not received clearance from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after recovering from a knee injury he sustained in December.
The 29-year-old all-rounder, who is a crucial part of the Punjab Kings’ squad, had also suffered an ankle injury during the Hundred competition last year.
According to an IPL source, the ECB is currently conducting scans to assess Livingstone’s fitness status, and he is expected to be available for selection from the second game onwards. In the meantime, Livingstone has posted a video on social media, showing him batting in the nets.
Punjab Kings will also be without Kagiso Rabada, their premier pacer, who will miss the KKR game due to national duty. The South African player featured in the final T20 against West Indies in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Despite these setbacks, the team is optimistic about their chances in the IPL, with Sam Curran, the highest-paid player in the competition’s history, having already joined the squad.