English players will be available for the whole of IPL 2022 but the Australians will have to balance playing the league with their national commitments and domestic competitions. The mega-auction will take place on February 12 and 13 and the tournament is expected to start on March 27.

Also read: ‘Loyalty with RCB is more important than winning IPL’, says Virat Kohli

An official from one of the ten franchises taking part in the IPL this year told Cricbuzz that they received a mail from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on availability of the England stars. 

“After the IPL, the ECB is committed to starting the 1st WTC Test Match v New Zealand on 2 June, 2022. The player availability for all the ECB players will be through to Sunday, 29 May, 2022 (sic),” the email, as per the Cricbuzz report, read. 

Also read: Ind vs NZ: As Indian women’s team loses T-20, Twitter users question BCCI’s role

However, the Australians will be busy with their historic tour of Pakistan in March-April. Some of them are also participating in their domestic league – Sheffield Shield, which ends in early April.

“The State players whose team does not qualify for the Sheffield Shield Final will be available from March 27. State player whose team qualifies for the Sheffield Shield Final will be available from 5, April,” the BCCI mail further reads. 

Also read: Justin Langer’s apology was was unnecessary: Australia skipper Pat Cummins on coach’s resignation

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankans will miss two weeks of IPL action because of their two-Test away series against Bangladesh. The same applies to the Bangla Tigers. 

Pacer Mustafizur Rahaman, as per the report, has been spared to fully take part in the IPL.

Availability being a key criteria, the ten teams will bid in the mega-auction this week. A total of 220 overseas players will go under the hammer. Out of those 47 are from Australia, 33 from South Africa, 24 each from England and New Zealand, 23 from Sri Lanka and five from Bangladesh.