New Delhi, March 23 Cricket Australia has not yet granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to Mitchell Starc for his IPL stint with Delhi Capitals, the franchise said on Monday, but remains hopeful that the leading pacer will join the squad before their tournament opener on April 1.
In a media interaction, Delhi Capitals' Axar Patel, cricket director Venugopal Rao, and head coach Hemang Badani fielded multiple questions about the availability of their pace spearhead. Starc had taken 14 wickets in 11 games last season.
"We are waiting to receive the NOC from Cricket Australia. Once we get that, we will know when he will join us," said Badani.
"We are in constant contact with CA. He has been bowling, and he bowled a few days ago. Unless Cricket Australia gives its approval that he is fit to play, there is little the franchise can do," said the coach when asked if the delay in issuing the NOC was due to fitness or workload management.
Sitting next to him, Rao added: "He is coming; it is just a matter of getting the NOC from Cricket Australia. They are monitoring, and we are monitoring (his fitness and workload)."
Flanked by Rao and Badani, Axar was asked if he was ready to play T Natarajan in Starc's place if the latter doesn't arrive in time for the team's first game against LSG in Lucknow on April 1.
"It is difficult to answer that at this stage. If Starc gets the NOC, he can come before the first match. We are waiting for that update. If he doesn't come, there is no temptation to replace a left-arm pacer with another left-arm pacer."
"It is about the team combination. However, Natajaran is doing really well and is 100 percent fit," said Axar.
Natarajan had played just two games last season due to a shoulder injury.