England coach Chris Silverwood said that it is increasingly difficult to tell players not to play the IPL. The auction for the next IPL season will be held later today in Chennai and a few payers from England are in the auction list. Meanwhile, Silverwood spoke to the media about England’s rotation policy with lot of cricket coming up which will prevent many players from playing in the IPL. Joe Root has skipped yet another IPL season while Mark Wood opted out at the last moment from the IPL 2021 auctions.
The England and Wales Cricket Board had decided that all the multi-format players, especially the likes of Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali will be rotated during the twin tour of Sri Lanka and India.
Difficult To Ask Players To Not Play IPL: Chris Silverwood
“It is very difficult to say to the players that no you can’t play IPL. You can’t say no if you just see the numbers. IPL is a marquee cricket event in T20 world and so it’s very difficult,” Silverwood said during a media conference where he was cornered on the issue of IPL gaining more precedence over Test matches.
When he was specifically asked if playing IPL became a priority as a lot of these players opted out of Big Bash League in Australia but now are skipping Test matches as a part of rotation policy” he denied accepting to the fact.
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“I don’t think it’s an issue because players are playing fantastic high level of T20 cricket which can only benefit us really. Moving forward it benefits the player. Obviously players make their own minds up about competitions (BBL, CPL, IPL) they go in but we benefit from their playing” said.
Chris Silverwood apologised to Moeen Ali for Joe Root’s comments on the England all-rounder likely to g home before the remaining two Test matches. While Moeen said that that he would return back home after the last two Tests, Root gave the impression that he was to return without playing the last two Tests.
"We're sorry for the impression we gave yesterday."
Chris Silverwood on Moeen Ali's return to the UK after the second Test in Chennai.#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/eTqU1r1bmu
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) February 17, 2021
“We are sorry. The decision for him to go home was ours. It was with Buttler, Sam, Bairstow and Moeen,” Silverwood said.
Also Read: Joe Root Set To Miss ODI Series Against India: Reports