Sunil Gavaskar criticizes England players for early departure from IPL 2024

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has launched a scathing attack on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and its players for their early departure from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Gavaskar has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to take action against the players and the board as well.

England players head home

Several England players, including Liam Livingstone (Punjab Kings), Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals), Will Jacks, and Reece Topley (Royal Challengers Bangalore), have left the IPL to either rest or join England’s squad for the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan, which begins on May 22.

Livingstone, in particular, returned to England to rest his knee ahead of the T20 World Cup next month. PBKS, where Livingstone plays, have already been eliminated from the IPL, with only four wins in 12 matches and sitting at the bottom of the standings with eight points. While RR and RCB are still in the race of making it into the playoffs.

Sunil Gavaskar calls for financial penalties

In his column for Mid Day, Gavaskar suggested that IPL franchises should withhold a significant portion of the players’ pay if they leave early. He emphasized the financial implications of their premature exit and argued that it undermines the commitments made to the franchises.

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“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.

Accountability for cricket boards

Gavaskar also called for cricket boards to be held accountable for breaking their assurances. He pointed out that the 10% commission paid to cricket boards for players’ participation in the IPL is a practice unique to the tournament and not seen in other T20 leagues worldwide.

“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,” added Gavaskar.