IPL 2023: Liam Livingstone, Kagiso Rabada set to miss Punjab Kings' opener against KKR

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England batter Liam Livingstone is set to miss Punjab Kings' (PBKS) opening match in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 on April 1 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Mohali. The top-order batter is yet to get a clearance from England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The hard-hitting batter has recovered from a knee injury but the ECB wants to do some scans and ensure his fitness status before releasing him to the IPL. The 29-year-old hasn't played any form of cricketing since injuring his knee in the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in December.

''He is out of the first game at least as the ECB is conducting scans to determine his fitness status. He should be available from the second game onwards,'' PTI news agency quoted an IPL source as saying.

The news comes days after Jonny Bairstow was ruled out of the IPL 2023 after failing to recover completely from a leg injury he suffered in September last year while playing golf. The wicketkeeper-batter has been replaced by Australian all-rounder Matthew Short - the BBL 2022-23 Player of the Tournament.

Further, Punjab will also be without their pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada in the first match. He was part of South Africa's home series against West Indies and featured in the third and final T20I on Tuesday. He is expected to arrive on April 3. PBKS face Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their second match on April 5.

England all-rounder Sam Curran, the costliest player in the history of IPL, has already joined the Punjab Kings squad. The franchise will be led by India international Shikhar Dhawan this season. Under Maynak Agarwal's leadership, Punjab finished sixth in the IPL 2022.

The side won seven and lost as many matches. Agarwal was released by the franchise ahead of the IPL 2023 auction. The 32-year-old opener will be playing for Aiden Markram-led Sunrisers Hyderabad in the sixteenth edition of the IPL.