Former Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar has launched a blistering criticism against the England Cricket Board (ECB) and its players for their premature departure from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Gavaskar has called upon the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to take decisive action against both the players and the board itself.
Sunil Gavaskar criticizes English players for leaving IPL 2024 midway
Expressing his disappointment, Gavaskar condemned the decision of several England players, such as Liam Livingstone from Punjab Kings, Jos Buttler from Rajasthan Royals, and Will Jacks along with Reece Topley from Royal Challengers Bangalore, to exit the IPL early. These players left either to rest or to join England’s squad for the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan, scheduled to commence on May 22.
“I am all for players choosing country before anything else, but having assured various franchises about their availability for the full season, if they pull out now, it will be letting down the franchises. The franchises should not only be allowed to deduct a substantial amount from the fee that the player was bought for, but also not give the Board, to which the player belongs, the stated 10 per cent commission of the fee that each player gets,” Gavaskar wrote.
Livingstone’s departure, specifically, was attributed to his need for rest to nurse a knee injury ahead of the T20 World Cup next month. Punjab Kings, his IPL team, has already been eliminated from the tournament after securing only four wins in 12 matches and currently languish at the bottom of the standings with eight points. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore are still striving to secure spots in the playoffs.
Gavaskar demands penalties for players leaving early
Gavaskar has proposed stringent measures to address such exits, suggesting that IPL franchises should withhold a significant portion of the players’ pay if they opt to leave early. He stressed the financial ramifications of their premature departure, arguing that it undermines the commitments made to the franchises.
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Gavaskar emphasized that while he supports players prioritizing national duty, their withdrawal from the IPL after assuring franchises of their full-season availability constitutes a breach of trust. He called for the deduction of a substantial amount from the players’ fees, as well as withholding the 10% commission owed to the respective cricket boards.
“I am all for players choosing country before anything else, but having assured various franchises about their availability for the full season, if they pull out now, it will be letting down the franchises. The franchises should not only be allowed to deduct a substantial amount from the fee that the player was bought for, but also not give the Board, to which the player belongs, the stated 10 per cent commission of the fee that each player gets,” Gavaskar wrote.
The cricketing legend highlighted the need for accountability, stressing that both players and cricket boards must be held responsible for their actions. He argued that the BCCI’s generosity in sharing revenue from the IPL is not reciprocated, necessitating measures to ensure adherence to commitments made to franchises.
“If the Board has gone back on its assurance, they need to be penalised too. This 10 per cent commission to the Boards happens only in the IPL and nowhere else. Does the BCCI get any thanks for its generosity? No way,” Gavaskar concluded.
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