England's Harry Brook has withdrawn from the IPL for the second consecutive season, risking a potential two-year ban.
Brook was acquired by Delhi Capitals in the 2024 IPL auction for INR 6.25 crore. However, the England middle-order batter has decided to withdraw from the competition nearly two weeks before the new season, citing his commitment to the national team.
This is the second time in a row Brook has opted out of the IPL. Last year, after being bought by DC for INR 4 crore, he pulled out of their campaign due to the death of his grandmother. South Africa pacer Lizaad Williams replaced him then.
Harry Brook will not play for Delhi Capitals in the upcoming IPL.
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) March 9, 2025
This is the second time in a row that he has pulled out of the tournament. pic.twitter.com/T9Cq8h2kue
His latest decision now puts him at risk of a two-year ban from the tournament. The new rule was introduced ahead of this year's IPL auction following complaints from franchise owners about players making last-minute withdrawals.
Will Brook be banned from IPL?
In a note last September, the BCCI issued a new rule to address the growing issue of overseas players withdrawing after bagging contracts.
"Any [overseas] player who registers for [an] auction and, after getting picked at the auction, makes himself unavailable before the start of the season will get banned from participating in the IPL/IPL auction for two seasons," the rule states.
However, an exception can be made if there is "an injury/medical condition, which will have to be confirmed by the [player's] home board".
Brook's withdrawal in this case does not seem to be due to an injury or a medical condition, as he admitted that he wants to "fully commit to preparing for the upcoming series" for England in his statement.
The Delhi Capitals haven’t named a replacement for Brook yet, with their 2025 campaign starting from March 24 against Lucknow Super Giants. Neither the IPL nor DC has released an official statement in this matter yet.
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