Defending Champion England’s IPL Players To Skip Play-Offs For T20 World Cup Prep
England’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup has prompted strategic decisions from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), affecting IPL play-offs for key players.
England men’s managing director Rob Key says the entire team will meet before the Pakistan series.
Members of England’s T20 World Cup squad have been called home by the ECB ahead of a four-match T20I series against Pakistan that begins on May 22. This means they will not be eligible for the IPL playoffs. As things stand, Jos Buttler of the Rajasthan Royals, Phil Salt of the Kolkata Knight Riders, and Moeen Ali of the Chennai Super Kings are probably going to be impacted by the decision.
Rob Key, the general director of England men’s national team, informed the players included in their provisional World Cup squad on Monday that they had been selected. He also informed the players engaged in the Indian Premier League that they would not be available for the knockout stages. The England versus Pakistan series will immediately collide with the play-offs, which take place from May 21 to May 26.
The remaining players are Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone (all Punjab Kings), Will Jacks, and Reece Topley (both Royal Challengers Bengaluru) who are also part of the England World Cup squad. Due to their poor performances this season, both teams could need to win every game in their remaining group to advance to the playoffs.
Players are anticipated to return to the UK around the weekend of May 18–19, which may prevent them from playing in the last group-stage matches for their individual teams. England is eager for its World Cup team to spend a few days together prior to their first Twenty20 international match since December. The group stage goes until May 19.
On Tuesday, Key stated, “You can’t just call people back for no reason: there are protections,” following the announcement of England’s interim roster. “We couldn’t tell Phil Salt, for example, to return and take it easy for the next fifteen days in the absence of an injury or England obligations. However, there is a window of opportunity right before an England series where players can return for injury or England duty.”
Key disclosed that Buttler, who has amassed two hundreds for the reigning Rajasthan Royals, was the driving force behind the decision to return home prior to the IPL’s conclusion. “‘Look, as England captain, you’re obviously going to have this series against Pakistan,’ I asked him early in the article. What is your perspective on it? ‘No, no, I want to come back and start getting ready for the World Cup in that series that’s just before it,’ he declared without hesitation.
However, Buttler may be absent on paternity leave come opening day of the Pakistan series, as he and his spouse Louise are expecting their third child next month. “When the due date is and when the baby comes is slightly fluid,” Key stated. “However, I believe that you prioritize your family and make sure you are present when your child is born. When the time comes, we’ll cross that bridge.”
Also Read: England’s T20 World Cup Triumph: Stokes and Curran Shine Bright
“Look, there is a good chance that you’ll be coming back [early],” Key informed the players before they departed for India. “You might choose to remain outside. We might believe that, in the event that you get to the IPL final, that’s the best course of action. We need to maintain a certain amount of flexibility. Perhaps if there were just the two of you, you would be free to continue doing that.”
However, he added that the England management determined the Pakistan series will assist them in defining the responsibilities of the players before their initial Twenty20 World Cup match on June 4 against Scotland. We’ve reached a point where, in reality, we believe it’s more crucial that you return and that group comes together—people like Phil Salt, who opens the batting for England and establishes a partnership with Jos Buttler.
All you want is for them to come together, spend some time together, and prepare for it. A significant portion of our white-ball team’s work has involved showing up a few days early and immediately starting a series. In contrast, I believe the Pakistan series will be crucial for that, so they will all return prepared for it.
“We want to make sure that when we get to Barbados, we know exactly what that is. You want people to really start understanding what their roles are, what your best XI is going to be.” Adil Rashid was hurt in that series against New Zealand during the last [50-over] World Cup, and we maybe overlooked how much his return affected the outcome.”
Different boards have taken different stances on matchups between the T20I series and the IPL playoffs. Earlier this month, New Zealand traveled to Pakistan with a subpar squad, and the BCB withdrew Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL in order to play a series against Zimbabwe. Despite facing West Indies in a three-match series, CSA will permit its players to remain in India for the playoffs.
