Pending BCCI approval, Victoria\u2019s Matt Short is set to become the 14th Australian in next month\u2019s Indian Premier League.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Punjab Kings are hoping to replace injured Englishman Jonny Bairstow with the in-form Short, provided the ECB deliver substantial evidence of Bairstow\u2019s season-ending injury to the BCCI.<\/p>\n
Bairstow suffered a horrific broken leg while playing golf in September 2022. <\/p>\n
Short, 27, has completed an extraordinary Australian summer across all three formats for both Victoria and the Adelaide Strikers.<\/p>\n
His three centuries in his last five innings for Victoria come just after being named Big Bash League Player of the Tournament.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s understood Short\u2019s form was presented by Punjab coach Trevor Bayliss \u2013 and Bayliss\u2019 assistant Brad Haddin \u2013 to the Kings board, which then began the replacement process.<\/p>\n
While confirming pen is yet to hit paper, Short\u2019s player manager Zach Whelan explained how his form was a result of backing from both Victoria and the Adelaide Strikers.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the IPL opportunity, any cricketer in Australia that plays white-ball cricket, the IPL is always at the back of their mind,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am absolutely rapt for him; it\u2019s come from a lot of hard-work to get that opportunity and the backing of the Adelaide Strikers and Cricket Victoria.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe support network around him, Jason Gillespie, Chris Rogers, Cameron White, it\u2019s finally coming through for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis opportunity, while it\u2019s only a replacement opportunity at the moment, Matty will take it with both hands.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of the 14 Australian\u2019s currently poised to play in the IPL, Short, from Ballarat, is the only one yet to play an international match.<\/p>\n
Originally published as Victorian star Matt Short is set to be rewarded for Australian summer purple patch with IPL deal<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n