<p>Indian Premier League team Delhi Capitals have signed Australian all-rounder Daniel Sams to replace England's Jason Roy for the T20 tournament starting next month in the United Arab Emirates.</p>.<p>Run-blasting Roy was on Thursday ruled out of England's T20 series against Pakistan after sustaining a side strain. However, the Delhi Capitals said he had opted out of the IPL "for personal reasons".</p>.<p>Billed as a rising star after his recent call-up to the national squad, Sams will join fellow Australians Marcus Stoinis and Alex Carey at the Delhi Capitals, coached by compatriot Ricky Ponting.</p>.<p>"The IPL is a huge platform for any cricketer, and back home, we all follow the tournament extremely closely every year," said Sams, 27.</p>.<p>"I feel fortunate to be a part of it this year... I can't wait to join the rest of the players in the UAE," he was quoted as saying in a statement by the franchise late Thursday.</p>.<p>South Africa-born opener Roy suffered the injury this week during England's preparations at Emirates Old Trafford where the Pakistan series starts later Friday.</p>.<p>Ahead of the tournament's start on September 19, all eight IPL teams have reached the UAE where they are required to undergo a period of quarantine in their hotels.</p>.<p>The IPL, originally scheduled to start in March, has been moved from India because of the rapid spread of the coronavirus across the country, the third worst-hit in the world behind the US and Brazil.</p>
<p>Indian Premier League team Delhi Capitals have signed Australian all-rounder Daniel Sams to replace England's Jason Roy for the T20 tournament starting next month in the United Arab Emirates.</p>.<p>Run-blasting Roy was on Thursday ruled out of England's T20 series against Pakistan after sustaining a side strain. However, the Delhi Capitals said he had opted out of the IPL "for personal reasons".</p>.<p>Billed as a rising star after his recent call-up to the national squad, Sams will join fellow Australians Marcus Stoinis and Alex Carey at the Delhi Capitals, coached by compatriot Ricky Ponting.</p>.<p>"The IPL is a huge platform for any cricketer, and back home, we all follow the tournament extremely closely every year," said Sams, 27.</p>.<p>"I feel fortunate to be a part of it this year... I can't wait to join the rest of the players in the UAE," he was quoted as saying in a statement by the franchise late Thursday.</p>.<p>South Africa-born opener Roy suffered the injury this week during England's preparations at Emirates Old Trafford where the Pakistan series starts later Friday.</p>.<p>Ahead of the tournament's start on September 19, all eight IPL teams have reached the UAE where they are required to undergo a period of quarantine in their hotels.</p>.<p>The IPL, originally scheduled to start in March, has been moved from India because of the rapid spread of the coronavirus across the country, the third worst-hit in the world behind the US and Brazil.</p>