The BCCI on Thursday instructed the IPL franchises to release eight WTC-bound South African players latest by May 26, making them unavailable for the Playoffs.

Following the ceasefire, it was decided to resume the IPL from May 17 with the final pushed back to June 3 from May 25. Meanwhile, England T20 stalwart Jos Buttler will leave for national duty after completing Gujarat Titans’s last three league engagements.