IPL 2021 resumption suffers first casualty as Cummins pulls out

New Delhi:  Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 suffered a setback months before its resumption in UAE in September when franchises’ worst fears regarding availability of foreign players started to come true with pullout of Australia pacer Pat Cummins from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Cummins has told KKR’s veteran India player Dinesh Karthik that he won’t be able to make it for the second leg of the tournament.
KKR may also miss England captain Eoin Morgan, who leads the franchise.
“Pat Cummins has himself said that he will not come. But when it comes to Eoin Morgan, there are still three months to go. A lot can change from now till September. But if I am asked to lead, I will be ready for it,” Karthik told Times of India in an interview.
There has been no statement from Cricket Australia yet on the availability of its players for the remainder of IPL 2021 whereas England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has already clarified that its players won’t skip international matches which coincide IPL.
ECB director of cricket Ashley Giles had last month said England have a packed schedule.