The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) declared on Friday that star fast bowler Jofra Archer will not participate in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, adding to the woes of his Rajasthan Royals franchise. The ECB and Sussex medical teams will continue to track Archer’s improvement as he returns to bowling with more pressure this week.
“From next week, Archer will increase his preparation regimen and will be in complete training with Sussex. If he can manage to bowl and practise without discomfort, he is expected to return to cricket in the next fortnight “In a tweet, the ECB said.
“In due course, the ECB will announce which matches he is supposed to play.”
Archer’s hand doctor sent him the green light to return to training last week when his right hand recovered from surgery on March 29.
His IPL team, RR, was praying fervently that he would be available at least until the end of the tournament.
Archer cut his hand while sweeping at home in January, just before flying to India for the Test series earlier this year.
The injury was treated by the ECB’s medical staff during the tour, and it had little effect on his availability. During the surgery, a piece of glass was taken from his right hand’s middle finger.
Kumar Sangakkara, the Director of Cricket for the Rajasthan Royals, acknowledged that the loss of Archer was a “major hit” and expressed hope that he would be “available at some point in time.”