Former Indian all-rounder turned cricket commentator Irfan Pathan lashed out at the England players for leaving the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 before the playoffs despite assuring their franchises full availability.
With the home four-match T20I series against Pakistan taking place on May 22, followed up by the T20 World Cup 2024 in June, the England Cricket Board (ECB) asked the selected England players to return home for national duties. Rajasthan Royals' Jos Buttler and Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Will Jacks and Reece Topley were the first to take their flight back home to United Kingdom (UK).
Punjab Kings' Liam Livingstone returned home due to knee injury, while his teammates Sam Curran and Jonny Bairstow are set to fly back to UK after playing the final match of the season against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on Wednesday, May 15.
Irfan Pathan unhappy with England players leaving the IPL season midway
Irfan Pathan was not happy with the England players leaving their respective teams midway of the ongoing IPL season and returning home for their international duties.
Taking to his X handle (formerly Twitter), former Indian all-rounder stated that England players should commit to playing the entire season or prevent themselves from participating in the tournament if they had to leave midway.
"Either be available for full season or don’t come!" Irfan wrote on X.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play their final league stage match against Chennai Super Kings without the services of Reece Topley and Will Jacks, while Rajasthan Royals were without their opener Jos Buttler in their five-wicket defeat to Punjab Kings in Guwahati on Wednesday. Tom Kohler-Cadmore replaced Buttler as an opener in RR's clash against PBKS.
Phil Salt and Moeen Ali will leave the ongoing IPL season soon
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batter Phil Salt and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder Moeen Ali will be flying back to England soon. CSK will play their league stage match against RCB, while KKR to play one final match against RR before the playoffs.
Jos Buttler, Reece Topley, Sam Curran, Jonny Bairstow, Phil Salt, Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone are part of the preliminary England squad for the T20 World Cup 2024.
England will begin their T20 World Cup title defence against Scotland at the Kensington Oval in Barbodos on June 4.
