Big names including Pietersen, Hayden and Warne will be seen in action; Bopara, Lee to arrive today.
Most foreign players, including Australians and Englishmen, are on way to India. Even Ravi Bopara, who had reportedly stated that the cricket is not worth dying for, will be arriving in India in a day or two.
“Ravi Bopara is going to be in India no later than March 3 to be part of the Kings XI Punjab squad. All media reports on his non participation are speculative. We have spoken to Bopara and he has confirmed his participation,” Kings XI chief executive Anil Srivastava said.
Lalit Modi has also rubbished reports of Bopara’s security fears as fictional. “He is arriving tomorrow,” the IPL chairman said.
Bopara was quoted as saying, “Cricket is my living and in many ways my life. But it is not worth dying for.”
There will be eight English players, including Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood, in India at different stages.
Meanwhile, most Australians have confirmed their availability to their franchisees after positive inputs from the foreign affairs department of the Australian government, which is believed to have said that threat to the tournament from an al-Qaeda linked organisation is not credible.
Shane Warne has declared his availability. “Leaving for Jaipur in the next few days,” the Rajasthan Royals skipper tweeted on Monday. He is expected to come along with other Australian players, including Damien Martyn.
“All our foreign players are available,” Sean Morris, the chief executive of the Jaipur team, told DNA. According to him even players like Graeme Smith could be part of the squad soon. “He is recovering from a finger injury but he will join the squad at some stage during the tournament,” Marsh said.
Team and IPL sources say Brett Lee and Matthew Hayden are also on way to India. Chennai Super Kings management confirmed that Hayden will be arriving in India on May 6, while Lee is expected in a couple of days.
According to Modi, Pietersen will be arriving in India after England’s ongoing series against Bangladesh ends. “He is coming on the day the Test ends,” Modi said. The second and final Test between England and Bangladesh is scheduled to end on March 24.
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