The Japan Times - Australia's Starc opts out of return to IPL: reports

The world's richest cricket tournament was suspended last week because of a brief but deadly conflict between nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan.

The competition will resume Saturday but faces losing several top stars for the closing stages because of clashes with the schedules of international teams including Australia, England and South Africa.

Four days of drone, missile and artillery exchanges from May 7 left around 70 people, including dozens of civilians, dead on both sides of the border.

Starc's Delhi Capitals were playing in Dharamsala when a match was abandoned because of what officials said was floodlight failure.

Dharamsala is less than 200 kilometres (125 miles) from the town of Jammu, where explosions were reported hours earlier the same day.

The stadium was swiftly evacuated and players including the 35-year-old Starc whisked out of the ground in the team bus.

Starc told the Delhi Capitals that he will not return, Australian media reported, freeing him up to focus on the build-up to his country's World Test Championship final against South Africa on June 11 at Lord's.

There was no immediate confirmation from the Delhi team or the IPL.

Australia captain Pat Cummins and star batter Travis Head will both return to India, but the plans of other Australians is unclear.

The league's suspension has thrown its schedule off kilter, with the playoffs now starting later and the final moved back nine days to June 3.

Gujarat Titans top the 10-team table and are almost sure to reach the playoffs starting May 29.

But wicketkeeper Buttler will leave the team after the group stage and will be replaced by the Sri Lankan Kusal Mendis, allowing the Englishman to be available for the first ODI against the West Indies.

England all-rounders Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks, who play for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians respectively, are also expected to leave the IPL early, the BBC reported.

South African players also look set to miss the playoff phase should their teams get there.

South Africa has said its players must leave India by May 26 so they can prepare for the WTC final.

"As it stands, we're not budging on this," coach Shukri Conrad said this week.

S.Yamada--JT