Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has launched a scathing attack on the English Cricket Board (ECB) for requesting that T20 World Cup players return home early. Gavaskar has stated that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should “penalise players” and “boards.” Liam Livingstone returned to England from the ongoing IPL to rest his knee before the T20 World Cup next month. Along with Livingstone, Jos Buttler (RR), Will Jacks, and Reece Topley (RCB) have left the IPL to join England’s squad for the T20I series against Pakistan, which begins on May 22. The Kings have already been knocked out of the IPL with only four wins in 12 matches, and they are currently at the bottom of the standings with eight points.
In his column for Mid Day, Gavaskar asked IPL franchisees to withhold a significant amount of their players’ pay, stressing the financial consequences of their premature exit. “I am all for players choosing country before anything else, but having assured various franchises about their availability for the full season, if they pull out now, it will be letting down the franchises. The franchises should not only be allowed to deduct a substantial amount from the fee that the player was bought for, but also not give the Board, to which the player belongs, the stated 10 per cent commission of the fee that each player gets,” Gavaskar stated.
Gavaskar argued for measures that would hold players and cricket boards accountable for breaking their promises. Furthermore, Gavaskar emphasised the contrast in treatment between the IPL and other T20 leagues across the world, namely the 10% commission paid to cricket boards for players’ participation in the event.
“If the Board has gone back on its assurance they need to be penalised too. This 10 per cent commission to the Boards happens only in the IPL and nowhere else. Does the BCCI get any thanks for its generosity? No way,” Gavaskar emphasized, calling for fairness and accountability in cricket administration. The uproar over England players’ IPL leaving highlights the challenges of juggling international and franchise cricket responsibilities. As conversations between the ECB and BCCI continue, parties await clarity on the next steps.
