IPL 2023: Big blow for Punjab Kings as star player ruled out of first game

Liam Livingstone will reportedly miss Punjab Kings’ first game of IPL 2023. The star all-rounder had joined the franchise for Rs 11.5 crore in IPL 2022 mega-auction. PBKS are without the services of Jonny Bairstow for the complete duration of the tournament. IPL 2023: Big blow for Punjab Kings as star player ruled out of first game.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) have suffered another blow going into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 as their star all-rounder Liam Livingstone is confirmed to miss the opening game of the season. Livingstone has landed in India but he won’t be available for selection for PBKS’ first game. Livingstone hasn’t been given fitness clearance from the England Cricket Board for the knee injury.

He suffered a knee injury during his Test debut against Pakistan in December 2022 and has been out of action since then. “He is out of the first game at least as the ECB is conducting scans to determine his fitness status. He should be available from the second game onwards,” a source was quoted. Punjab Kings will open their IPL 2023 campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 1. Their second game will be against Rajasthan Royals on April 5.

Livingstone wasn’t even a regular in the playing XI till IPL 2021. His stocks skyrocketed after his century against Pakistan in a bilateral series two years ago and he made a name for himself in T20 cricket after that. In February 2022, Livingstone was in huge demand in the mega auction and joined PBKS for a huge sum of Rs.11.5 crores.

Livingstone shone with the bat and smashed 437 runs in 14 matches of IPL 2022. Batting with a strike rate of 166.87, the right-handed batsman hit 40 sixes and 38 boundaries.

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