Saqlain Mushtaq and Jos Buttler.
Photo : Twitter
The decision by several England players to withdraw from the Indian Premier League (IPL) to focus on the upcoming T20 series against Pakistan has sparked a lot of reactions within the cricket fraternity. But Saqlain Mushtaq, the former legendary Pakistani spinner who has also worked as a spin consultant for England, lauded the players’ commitment to the national team and stated that the nation always comes first over club cricket.
“Many opinions @englandcricket players that were involved in @IPL those left to play for England. I respect for putting the country first. The country always comes first regardless, it’s the country that gives the recognition. My philosophy and values as a coach. Country. Team. Me,” he wrote on X.
England white-ball captain Jos Buttler defended the ECB for pulling its players out of the IPL for national duty and added that international cricket should not coincide with the T20 league.
“Look, as an England captain, my main priority is to be playing for England,'” Buttler was quoted as saying by PTI on Tuesday.
“It’s my personal opinion that there shouldn’t be any international cricket that clashes with the IPL. I think that these games have been in the calendar for a long time. Of course, leading into a World Cup, your No. 1 priority is playing for England and performing for England. I feel like this is the best preparation,” he added.
Sam Curran, who represented Punjab Kings in the IPL, also said that ECB’s decision made a lot of sense.
“It was a decision that was made, that it was probably the right thing for us all to come back. It was only fair for all franchise to lose a player each or so… it would have been quite harsh if some franchises got to keep a couple of players and then some didn’t,” the all-rounder, whose IPL team did not qualify for the play-offs, was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
The convergence of international cricket and the Indian Premier League has been a topic of debate among players. While some prioritize national committments, others emphasize the importance of a well-rounded schedule. However, the viewpoints of Mushtaq and Buttler highlight the ongoing debate within the cricket fraternity.