Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will be without their English pacer Mark Wood in the final stages of IPL 2023, as he is set to attend the birth of his child. Wood has been in fine form this season, picking up 11 wickets in just four matches. However, the speedster has already missed two matches due to illness and will now fly back home towards the end of May.
Wood's wife, Sarah, is expected to give birth to their second child later in May, and he will be present for the event. LSG play their next match against Punjab Kings on Friday, and will have back-to-back home games against Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings on May 1 and 3.
The IPL qualifiers are set to be held on May 23 and 26, with the final scheduled for May 28. England is also scheduled to play a one-off Test against Ireland at Lord's on June 1, just days after the IPL final. While England Test captain Ben Stokes has indicated that he may leave the IPL early to prepare for the Ireland Test, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has assured the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and franchises that England players would be available for the full season. Despite the Ashes series coming up this summer, the ECB does not intend to pull players out of the tournament against their will.