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England have included five Indian Premier League players in their one-day international squad to face the West Indies, including former captain Jos Buttler, but have not ruled out allowing individuals to skip the series in favour of their franchise.
A clash between the closing stages of the IPL and England’s three-match series came about after mounting hostilities between India and Pakistan saw the lucrative tournament paused, then rescheduled.
The restarted IPL is due to conclude on June 3, while Harry Brook’s first assignment as England captain features games on May 29, June 1 and June 3.
The situation has put the England and Wales Cricket Board in a difficult position, torn between supporting its Indian counterparts at a sensitive time, allowing its players to fulfill their contracts and maintaining the integrity of its own international product.
For now, at least, they have kicked that decision down the road and will continue to mull the situation over.
Buttler’s Gujarat Titans squad top the current IPL table, meaning his is highly likely to be at the centre of the dilemma, while the recalled Will Jacks (Mumbai Indians) and Jacob Bethell (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) could also find themselves in the same situation.
The other two IPL players who have been selected to face the Windies, Jofra Archer and Jamie Overton, are with teams who cannot reach the finals.
A spokesperson for the ECB said: “We’re keen to support the IPL and the BCCI in getting the schedule up and running, and to facilitate players’ return should they choose to go back.
“No objection certificates have been granted based on the original IPL dates, so we’ll need to review any potential extensions, particularly in relation to any clash with the final white-ball squad. We’ll continue to work closely with the BCCI and the IPL as the situation develops.”
English (US) ·