Australian World Cup winner Josh Hazlewood has been axed by his Indian Premier League franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Just a week after helping Australia stun hosts India to claim the ODI World Cup, Hazelwood was among 11 players released by Bangalore ahead of the upcoming IPL auction.
But in a twist, Australian allrounder Cameron Green is poised to end up in Bangalore with national teammate Glenn Maxwell and Indian superstar Virat Kohli.
Green, who was bought by the Mumbai Indians for a record-breaking $A3.15 million last year, has reportedly been traded to the Royal Challengers.
Mumbai were desperate to bring back Indian allrounder Hardik Pandya from the Gujarat Titans, with Green the logical choice to make way.
Several Indian outlets, including ESPNcricinfo, are reporting Green will play in Bangalore next season.
The 24-year-old had a slow start to life in the IPL, but ended up winning over the Mumbai fans with 452 runs at 50.22.
Green even blasted a 47-run ball century against the Sunrisers Hyderabad to book the franchise's spot in the finals series.
The Royal Challengers and Mumbai are both yet to confirm any deal for Green.
But Bangalore coach Andy Flower, who was part of Australia's staff for the World Cup, left the door open for Hazlewood to return.
"I've just come off the phone with Josh," Flower said on Sunday.
"He, very pleasingly, has a baby on the way, due at the end of March.
"So Josh won't be with us, certainly not for the first half of the season."
Fellow Australians Daniel Sams (Lucknow Super Giants), Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith (both Mumbai Indians) were also released by their franchises.
