Kings XI Punjab all-rounder Glenn Maxwell's participation in this year's Indian Premier League is in doubt.
Maxwell has withdrawn from Australia's T20I series against South Africa this month to undergo elbow surgery. He will be replaced in the tourists' squad by top-order batsman and part-time wrist-spinner D'Arcy Short.
What was said about Maxwell
“We are disappointed to lose Glenn this close to the tour as we were looking forward to welcoming him back to the national side in both the 20- and 50-over formats after his break during the summer,” said national selector Trevor Hohns.
“Unfortunately, the pain he has experienced in the elbow in the latter stages of the Big Bash League increased over the weekend and he will have surgery immediately to rectify the situation.
“An opportunity has now presented itself for D'Arcy and we're confident he'll make the most of whatever opportunities come his way in South Africa. Like Glenn, D'Arcy is an inventive, hard-hitting batsman who offers a handy spin-bowling option. We have no doubt he will make a positive contribution to the squad.”
The 31-year-old Maxwell was key to the Melbourne Stars' campaign during the 2019-20 Big Bash League. The Stars lost the final to the Sydney Sixers. The Stars had topped the standings after the round-robin stage of the tournament.
Maxwell played for the Kings XI Punjab previously – and has rejoined after a stint with the Delhi Capitals. Whether the surgery sidelines him from the 2020 IPL remains in the balance.
“Representing Australia is the highest honour in cricket and something I cherish. I was not confident that I could perform at international level with my elbow in its current state and have decided to undergo surgery straight away to fix the issue,” concluded Maxwell.
Kings XI Punjab's other stars
The Kings XI Punjab will be captained by batsman KL Rahul this season. They also have the West Indies' Chris Gayle, New Zealand's Jimmy Neesham, England's Chris Jordan, South Africa's Hardus Viljoen and other stars from abroad. Batsman Mayank Agarwal and seamer Mohammed Shami are among the franchise's local contingent.
