England opener Jason Roy is understood to have opted out of the 2020 IPL. Roy, who represents Delhi Capitals, ESPNcricinfo has learned, will be replaced by Australian left-arm fast bowler Daniel Sams. The development came on the back of ECB announcing on Thursday that Roy had been ruled out of the T20I series against Pakistan due to a side strain he picked up this week.

While Roy would become the second Englishman to opt out of IPL, Sams will be the second fast bowler Captials have hired after the auction. Recently South Africa fast bowler Anrich Nortje replaced England allrounder Chris Woakes.

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This will be Sams' first time in the IPL. The New South Wales quick made headlines for Sydney Thunder at the 2019-20 Big Bash League where he finished as the tournament's highest wicket-taker. That performance earned him an international call-up for Australia's white-ball tour of England in September. The tour, comprising three T20Is and three ODIs, will be played between September 4 and September 16, with the IPL starting three days later in the UAE.

Roy, who was bought back by Capitals in the most recent players' auction for his base price of INR 1.5 crore, is understood to be unavailable for this season. Neither the player nor Capitals have made a comment on the development.

More to follow…