“My main priority is playing for …”: Jos Buttler responds to early IPL 2024 exit
England will face Pakistan today (May 22) in the first match of their four-game T20I series at Headingley in Leeds. In preparation for this series, eight English cricketers, including captain Jos Buttler, returned early from the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). This decision has sparked criticism, particularly from former Indian cricketers Irfan Pathan and Sunil Gavaskar, who condemned the players for abandoning their IPL franchises during a crucial stage of the tournament.
For those unaware, apart from Buttler, players like Phil Salt, Reece Topley, and Will Jacks would have been participating in the IPL playoffs if they had stayed. Their absence is likely to impact their teams significantly. However, Buttler has defended the ECB’s decision to withdraw the players for the Pakistan series, emphasizing the importance of international duty.
“My main priority is playing for …”: Jos Buttler responds to early IPL 2024 exit
Buttler stated that international commitments take precedence and highlighted the need for World Cup-bound players to play together before the major event. He also expressed that international matches should not overlap with the IPL, as it puts players in a difficult position.
“As an England captain, my main priority is playing for England. I personally believe there shouldn’t be any international cricket that clashes with the IPL. These games have been scheduled for a long time, and leading into a World Cup, the top priority is playing and performing for England. This series is the best preparation,” Buttler said on the eve of the first T20I against Pakistan.
Interestingly, New Zealand played five T20Is against Pakistan during the IPL with a second-string squad, as their primary players were engaged in the IPL. Similarly, the upcoming South Africa vs West Indies T20I series will proceed without players currently participating in the IPL.
