Play Full IPL or Don’t Participate – Irfan Pathan’s Message for Jos Buttler & Co.
All the English player, including Jos Buttler have returned to England.
With the T20 World Cup 2024 just around the corner, overseas players participating in IPL 2024 are starting to head back to their national sides for preparation.
However, this trend hasn’t gone down well with former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who has taken a subtle jab at players like Jos Buttler and other England cricketers who have left the IPL mid-season.
Pathan voiced his criticism on X (formerly Twitter) after the RR vs PBKS match, which notably lacked star player Jos Buttler in the Royals’ lineup.
Buttler, along with Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt and Moeen Ali, departed early upon instruction from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
Meanwhile, Sam Curran confirmed his and Jonny Bairstow’s return home on Thursday. Irfan Pathan specifically targeted the decisions of several England players to leave the IPL early. Taking to X, here’s what he wrote:
Notably, these departures of English players were either for rest or to join England’s squad for the upcoming four-match T20I series against Pakistan, starting on May 22nd.
Last month, the ECB clarified that players selected for the T20 World Cup must return home before May 22nd for the national team’s series against Pakistan.
