IPL 2021: ‘When IPL clashes with international cricket, England will take precedence,’ says Jos Buttler
Jos Buttler
England and Rajasthan Royals (RR) wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler is unlikely to play in the remaining leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. The flamboyant cricketer asserted that national duty takes precedence over the cash-rich league if the two events take place at the same time.
IPL 2021 was suspended midway during the tournament after several coronavirus cases were reported from various franchises. This included many cricketers and support staff members. Now, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to take the remaining matches of IPL’s 14th edition to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This is expected to begin in mid-September, however, England will be touring Pakistan and Bangladesh at that point.
Recently, England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) director of cricket Ashley Giles stated that England players won’t be available for the IPL 2021 remaining matches. Agreeing to what Giles had said, Buttler mentioned:
“Usually the IPL doesn’t clash with any international cricket. When it does clash, probably England will take precedence,” Buttler was quoted as saying by the BBC.
‘I want to play as much as I can’: Buttler
The 30-year-old also talked about England’s recent rotation policy. Buttler admitted that he would love to play every match of the home Test series against India alongside The Ashes. However, at the same time, he highlighted that the English side has been playing a lot of cricket in recent times.
“In the past 18 months to two years, there have been some strides made, and the side is going in the right direction. Some key personnel weren’t playing in the games just gone. Things are still in a good place.
“I want to play as much as I can. You always want to be available for everything. I don’t think there are any perfect answers. We play a lot of cricket, and it’s important for everyone to be looked after,” Buttler added.
Jos Buttler wasn’t a part of the England Test team during the recently-concluded two-match series against New Zealand. Moreover, he played just a solitary game in the four Tests series in India. He will now be seen in action during the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, commencing on Wednesday in Cardiff.
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Sachin Arora
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