Leading Australia players set to miss start of IPL 2022

The opening weeks of the 15th edition of the T20 franchise tournament could be without a number of major overseas names due to a clash with several bilateral international series

The Indian Premier League will kick-off without a number of major Australian players, while a number of other nations are set to demand their star names feature in the bilateral series that clash with the start of the tournament.

Cricket Australia are insisting that players involved in both the Test and white-ball series against Pakistan will not be available until April 6, with those featuring in the Sheffield Shield final free from April 5.

Test captain Pat Cummins, batters David Warner and Steve Smith, as well as seamer Josh Hazlewood could therefore miss a large portion of the 15th edition of the competition.

"We do see the IPL as a really good development opportunity when it fits, but there's obviously a huge amount of cricket with a series (in Sri Lanka) planned for immediately-post the IPL as well," said chair of selectors George Bailey.

"So it will be about working with the individuals to ensure they're getting the preparation they need, but we certainly won't be releasing players to the IPL while Australia are playing."

Currently, only two Aussies have confirmed deals for the 2022 tournament, with Marcus Stoinis, signed up by Lucknow Supergiants and Glenn Maxwell retained by Royal Challengers Bangalore.

It remains to be seen how strict other cricket boards, whose players have multiple commitments, are in practice.

^{Shakib Al Hasan may have to leave the IPL early (INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images)}

South Africa are due to host Bangladesh in March and early April for an ODI and Test tour, with Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, who was kept on by Delhi Capitals, potentially impacted.

Tigers allrounder Shakib Al Hasan has ruled himself out of the South Africa Tests but is expected to face Sri Lanka in May, which will lead to an early departure. Wanindu Hasaranga could be among the Sri Lankans also obligated to play.

Of those players selected for England's Test series in the West Indies only Jonny Bairstow and Mark Wood may be affected, with Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes having ruled out a return.

Bairstow and Wood - two of 30 Englishman submitted for the auction on February 12 and 13 - are further impinged by the ECB asking all players involved in the New Zealand Tests in June to be available from May 29.

Similarly, only Jason Holder faces having to miss the start of the IPL due to his role with the Windies.

The 10 IPL franchises have been informed of the limits on availability ahead of the mega player auction this weekend and it will likely impact their approach.