A host of leading England stars taking part in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League will not be available for the playoffs should their respective franchises advance to the stage.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has said those players who have been picked in their 15-man squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 will have to be available for a home series against Pakistan beginning May 22.
“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 22 May 2024,” ECB said in a statement on Tuesday.
Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals), Moeen Ali (Chennai Super Kings), Jonathan Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone (All three Punjab Kings), Will Jacks, Reece Topley (Both Royal Challengers Bengaluru) and Phil Salt (Kolkata Knight Riders) will be flying home during the business end of the IPL 2024.
RR are currently at the top of the IPL standings and are the favourites to finish in the top-four. Buttler has been a key performer for the franchise having scored two centuries so far.
On the other hand, Bairstow recently roared back into form with a scintillating century that powered PBKS to a record-breaking chase against KKR.
Curran has been the stand-in captain for PBKS with Shikhar Dhawan missing a few games due to fitness concerns. Livingstone though is yet to make a significant contribution.
Phil Salt, who opens for KKR, has scored 392 runs in 9 innings at an excellent strike-rate of 180.65. The two-time champions are currently second on the points table.
The playoffs will get underway from May 21 with the first qualifier to be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The Eliminator will be played on May 22 at the same venue while the second qualifier is slated to be hosted by at Chennai’s Chepauk Stadium.
Final will be played on May 26 in Chennai.
