Jos Buttler celebrates after RR’s win over KKR in IPL 2024, Babar Azam during a practice drill in Leeds. (Express photo by Partha Paul, Reuters)
England players leaving IPL 2024 at the business end to play a four-match T20I series against Pakistan had become a point of contention in the leadup to the playoffs. Now, Rajasthan Royals’ swashbuckling opener and England captain Jos Buttler has stated that no international games should take place at the same time as the IPL.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the first T20I was abandoned owing to rain, Buttler said, “It’s a unique buildup, that’s why we felt it was good to get the players together in this series. In my personal opinion, there should never be any international cricket that clashes with IPL. In my personal opinion, there should never be any international cricket that clashes with IPL.”
Buttler was part of the Rajasthan Royals franchise, who – coincidentally – on the same day have sealed a Qualifier 2 spot against Sunrisers Hyderabad to decide the second finalist of this IPL season.
The England skipper was then quick to turn the focus on the series at hand on road to the T20 World Cup. “But my first priority at the moment is being England captain at the moment and try to prepare as best as we can for a world tournament.”
It was Buttler, who had initiated the early exit of England internationals from the franchise league, as told by England men’s managing director Rob Key. “Look, as England captain, you’re obviously going to have this series against Pakistan. How do you see it?” And straightaway, he said, “No, no, I want to come back and start getting ready for the World Cup in that series that’s just before it,” Key was quoted saying by ESPN Cricinfo earlier this month.
Both England and Pakistan will square off in three more T20Is stretching to May 30, a day before the T20 World Cup kicks off. The two teams do not have any warm-up games in the lead up to the tournament in the Caribbean and the USA.
Expressing his dejection over the first T20I in Leeds getting called off, Buttler said, “It’s really frustrating. We’ve had a really good couple of days of preparation and everyone was really excited for the series. Just putting the England kit back on and playing in England is amazing, so it’s really disappointing. But still, three matches, so lots to look forward to.”
The second T20I is scheduled for May 25 in Edgbaston.
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