IPL 2024: Sunil Gavaskar Criticizes England Cricketers for Early IPL Exit, Calls for BCCI Action
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has hit out at the English Cricket Board (ECB) for requesting early repatriation of T20 World Cup players. Gavaskar has said that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should "penalize the players" and "the board." Liam Livingstone returned to England from the ongoing IPL to rest his knee ahead of the T20 World Cup next month. Along with Livingstone, Jos Buttler (RR), Will Jacks and Reece Topley (RCB) have left the IPL to join the England squad for the T20I series against Pakistan starting on May 22. The Kings have already been knocked out of the IPL. With just four wins from 12 matches, and they are currently bottom of the standings with eight points.
In his column for Mid-Day, Gavaskar asked IPL franchises to withhold a significant amount of their players' salaries, stressing the financial consequences of their premature exit. "I'm all for players choosing country before anything else, but by assuring various franchises of their availability for a full season, if they pull out now, it will bring down the franchises. Franchises shouldn't just be allowed to make significant deductions. The fee from which the player was bought, but does not even give the board, which belongs to the player, a 10 per cent commission on the fee each player receives," Gavaskar said.
Gavaskar argued for measures that would hold players and cricket boards accountable for breaking their promises. Additionally, Gavaskar highlighted the contrast in treatment between the IPL and other T20 leagues around the world, namely the 10% commission paid to cricket boards for players' participation in the event.
"If the board goes back on its assurance then they too need to be fined. The board gets this 10 per cent commission only in the IPL and nowhere else. Is the BCCI being thanked for its generosity? No way," Gavaskar asserted. said. , called for fairness and accountability in cricket administration. The uproar over England players quitting the IPL highlights the challenges of juggling the responsibilities of international and franchise cricket. As talks between the ECB and the BCCI continue, the parties are awaiting clarity on the next steps.