IPL 2018, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood, Moeen Ali, IPL 2018, ECB
Image Courtesy: Twitter

England Test players look all set to miss at least two weeks of the lucrative Twenty20 IPL 2018, kicking off on April 7 in Mumbai.

As per the latest itinerary, Pakistan will tour England for two Test matches. As the tournament is starting off on May 24.

However, the grand finale of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be played on May 27 in Mumbai.

Assuming that England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is expected to call their players back. At least ten days prior to the start of the series.

Moeen Ali
(AP Photo/Jon Super)

The three players on the list are Ben Stokes, Mark Wood and Moeen Ali. All the three players are expected to retain their place in the Test side.

This will be the second running year when Stokes will miss the last phase of IPL.

Last year, he missed the playoffs of IPL as he was called to join the England team for the South Africa series.

In 2018 IPL auction, Stokes was purchased by Rajasthan Royals for a record price of Rs 12.50 Crore, emerging out as the costliest player for the second runnings year.

Talking Points, Kane Williamson, Martin Gupill, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Trans-Tasman T20I
Photo Credit: Getty Images

Mark Wood was purchased by Chennai Super Kings at Rs 1.50 Crore in the second round.

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Moeen Ali, the third player on the list, was purchased by Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 1.70 Crore.

This will be the first season of IPL for Wood and Moeen.

All the three players will also miss the pre-season camp of their franchises due to England’s busy schedule.

England are currently playing the T20I series in New Zeland.

Post that, they will play five ODIs and two Test matches, ending on April 3.

This clearly shows that they will miss the pre-season camp as the eleventh edition of IPL starts on April 7.

IPL 2018: England Test players to have early exit from T20 league
Source: Google.

Sam Billings, the Chennai Super Kings’ player, though will join the team in time as the ODI series ends on March 10 and he is not a part of the Test squad.

Jos Buttler will also have a timely arrival in Rajasthan Royals camp as he is also not the part of the Test side.

Both Buttler and Billings will also play the full tournament as they are not expected to be called up for Pakistan series too.

The players of all other nations are expected to play the major part of IPL 2018.

Though, Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell will have a late arrival in India due to Finch’s wedding.

The Australian opener has his wedding planned on April 7, the reason why these two will not play opening contests for their franchises.

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