The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Friday confirmed that fast bowler Jofra Archer will not be participating in the ongoing 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021). He was supposed to turn out for Rajasthan Royals (RR).
26-year-old Archer returned to bowling this week with higher intensity, and the ECB and Sussex medical teams will continue to monitor his progress. Archer had suffered a cut to his hand while cleaning at his home in January shortly before flying to India to prepare for the Test series earlier this year.
The ECB's medical team managed the injury throughout the tour, and it did not impact his availability. A fragment of glass was removed during the operation to his middle finger on his right hand.
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“Archer will now step up his training regime starting next week and will be in full training with Sussex. It is expected that he will return to cricket in the next fortnight if he can continue to bowl and prepare pain-free. The ECB will confirm which matches he is expected to play in due course,” ECB said in a statement.
Last week. Archer’s hand consultant gave him the all-clear to resume training as his right hand continued to heal following his operation on March 29.
However, Archer missing out on the entire IPL 2021 will leave his franchise RR in the doldrums as they have already lost Ben Stokes to a broken finger and Liam Livingstone returned home citing bubble fatigue.
(PTI inputs)
