ECB To Allow Players To Have Long IPL Stint

Since the inception of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the cash-rich T20 tournament has witnessed super-giants of the game showing their bravura acts in the league and earning accolades for the same. But till now, the participation of England players has been pretty less.

Most of the England cricketers have kept themselves away from the league except the likes of Kevin Pietersen, Jos Buttler, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara, Chris Jordan.

But for the first time in the history of the IPL, we might see many England players participating in the tournament as the England Cricket Board (ECB) is pondering to allow its players to have a long stint with the IPL franchises.

It is the interest shown by the BCCI to garner services of best of the England players during the tournament which might result in ECB releasing their players for the tournament.

Ben Stokes has already shown his interest in participating in the T20 league, “I have put myself up for the auction. It is a good opportunity to experience a different competition. I won’t say we weren’t lucky in terms of the English summer; it’s quite hard to get away and experience what it is like to play in these T20 leagues. This year’s IPL is a chance not just to myself but to a few other English guys,” he said.

It has been learnt that the players participating in the tournament will have to return to the country by May 1 to participate in the ODIs against Ireland. Also, there is little bit hope that the players getting selected in IPL teams might be allowed to skip Ireland series but the final decision is in the hands of the England board, which is yet to come up with a final announcement.