Australian batsmen Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell have decided to direct their focus firmly on the 2019 World Cup and have opted not to participate in the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL), reports ESPNcricinfo.

Maxwell was signed by the Delhi Daredevils (now renamed Delhi Capitals) in January for approximately R18-million, while Finch fetched a similar price for Kings XI Punjab. Both players have recently been released by their franchises.

The availability of Australian players for the IPL has been a hot topic after Cricket Australia confirmed that players won’t be allowed to participate until after the conclusion of their domestic season – while the World Cup squad players will have to cut their participation short in early May, the governing body citing that players have to put Australian cricket first.

The IPL 2019 is scheduled to take place from 29 March to 19 May (venue still to be confirmed) – thus clashing with Australia’s domestic Sheffield Shield final. It also conflicts with the scheduled training camp the Australian squad will be required to attend in early May ahead of the World Cup beginning on 30 May in England and Wales.

The venue is yet to be confirmed due to the BCCI waiting for the dates of India’s general elections. The last time the IPL clashed with general elections (2009 and 2014) the tournament was moved to South Africa and the UAE (first half of the season) respectively.

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With the IPL taking place so close to the World Cup, the availability of international players has been the biggest concern for the franchises, and as a result Maxwell and Finch have decided to pull their names out of the hat entirely.

The auction for next year’s IPL is scheduled to take place on December 18 in Jaipur.

Photo: Image copyright BCCI