'Goodbyes never get easier': Ben Stokes set to join Rajasthan Royals squad in UAE for IPL 2020

All-rounder had been with family in New Zealand after father's cancer diagnosis

Ben Stokes is set to join the Rajasthan Royals squad in Dubai. SPORTZPICS for BCCI

All-rounder Ben Stokes is set to feature in this year's Indian Premier League after Rajasthan Royals indicated the England player will be arriving in the UAE from New Zealand.

Stokes left England's bio-secure bubble at Old Trafford following a Test win over Pakistan in August to return to the country of his birth and spend time with his family after his father Ged was diagnosed with brain cancer.

He played no further part in England's summer and looked doubtful for the rearranged IPL campaign, which got under way in the UAE on September 19 with Stokes' Royals playing their fourth match on Saturday.

However, Stokes posted three photos on Instagram of himself and his family alongside the caption "Goodbyes never get easier":

The Royals then tweeted:

Rajasthan subsequently uploaded a photo of a masked Stokes seemingly on an aeroplane under the heading "Stoked" and then adding "He is back" in response to one of the replies.

Stokes will not be immediately available for his franchise as the IPL's Covid-19 protocols mean he must quarantine for six days upon his arrival in the UAE.

Stokes had been training at Sydenham Cricket Club in Christchurch in preparation for his return, having been out of action since the beginning of August.