However, ahead of the start of the exciting tournament, Texas Super Kings have suffered a major blow as their star player Ambati Rayudu has announced his withdrawal from the inaugural season. The decision comes just days before the start of the tournament, leaving the franchise scrambling to find a replacement for the veteran cricketer.
Rayudu’s absence is believed to be linked to the new rules implemented by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). However, there has been no official confirmation regarding the specific reasons behind his decision. The talented batter had recently signed with the Texas Super Kings after retiring from the Indian Premier League (IPL) following the conclusion of the 2023 edition, in which MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK), emerged as champions.
The official statement released by the Texas Super Kings expressed disappointment over Rayudu’s unavailability for the MLC’s first season. The franchise revealed that the player had cited personal reasons and confirmed that he would continue to support the team from India.
“Ambati Rayudu will not be available to participate in the first season of the MLC with Texas Super Kings due to personal reasons. He will continue to cheer for the team from India,” stated the Texas Super Kings in their announcement.
Although no details of the new policy have been disclosed, the Indian Express reported that it could include a cooling-off phase, during which retired players would be restricted from participating in foreign private leagues for a specific duration.
Texas Super Kings Squad (Updated):
Devon Conway, Mitchell Santner, Daniel Sams, David Miller, Gerald Coetzee, Dwayne Bravo, Rusty Theron, Calvin Savage, Lahiru Milantha, Milind Kumar, Sami Aslam, Cameron Stevenson, Cody Chetty, Zia Shahzad, Saiteja Mukkamalla, Mohammad Mohsin
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