Although the Delhi Capitals have not yet received a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Cricket Australia for Mitchell Starc’s IPL stint, they are still optimistic that the pace spearhead would join the team prior to their tournament opener on April 1.
Axar Patel, head coach Hemang Badani, and cricket director Venugopal Rao of the Delhi Capitals answered numerous inquiries from the media over the availability of their pace spearhead. In 11 games last season, Starc claimed 14 wickets.
“We are waiting to get the NOC from Cricket Australia. Once we get that, we will know when he will join us,” PTI quoted Badani as saying.
“We are in constant touch with CA. He has been bowling, he had a bowled few days back. Unless Cricket Australia signs off on him that he is fit to play, there is little a franchise can do,” said the coach when asked if workload management or fitness was the reason for the delay in awarding the NOC.
Sitting next to him, Rao added: “He is coming, it is just a question of getting the NOC from Cricket Australia. They are monitoring, we are monitoring (his fitness and workload). “
Axar, flanked by Rao and Badani, was asked if he was prepared to replace T Natarajan in case Starc failed to show up in time for the team’s opening match against LSG in Lucknow on April 1.
“It is tough to answer that at this stage. If Starc gets NOC, he can come before the first match also. We are waiting for that update. If he doesn’t come there is no temptation to replace a left arm pacer with a left arm pacer. It is about team combination. Having said that, Natajaran is doing really well and is 100 percent fit,” said Axar.
Due to a shoulder injury, Natarajan only participated in two games during the previous season.
