The England Cricket Board recalled players playing in the IPL to join the nation’s duties in a home series against Pakistan starting on May 22nd.
Several prominent English cricketers participating in the IPL will miss the playoffs if their teams qualify. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced that players selected for the T20 World Cup squad must be available for a home series against Pakistan starting May 22nd.
“Selected players, currently playing in the Indian Premier League, will return in time for the series against Pakistan, which gets underway at Headingley on Wednesday, May 22, 2024,” the ECB said in a statement.
This means players like Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals), Moeen Ali (Chennai Super Kings), Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone (all Punjab Kings), Will Jacks and Reece Topley (Royal Challengers Bangalore), and Phil Salt (Kolkata Knight Riders) will have to leave the IPL early.
Buttler’s absence will be a major blow to the Rajasthan Royals, who are currently leading the IPL standings. Buttler has been a key player for them, scoring two centuries this season.
Similarly, Jonny Bairstow’s recent return to form with a brilliant century for the Punjab Kings is a positive they will have to miss. Sam Curran has been leading the Punjab Kings in Shikhar Dhawan’s absence, while Liam Livingstone has yet to make a significant impact this season.
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Phil Salt, who has been impressive at the top of the order for the Kolkata Knight Riders with 392 runs at a strike rate of 180.65, will also be departing early.
While their respective IPL franchises will be missing the stars, the Pakistan series appears to be a quick warmup before the T20 World Cup, as England has already announced their squad for the tournament. The Three Lions will start their campaign by facing Scotland on June 4th. The team has been placed with Scotland, Australia, Oman, and Namibia for the group stages.
Last Updated on April 30, 2024
