The decision by England’s T20 World Cup-bound cricketers to miss the Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs due to national commitments has stirred controversy within the cricket community. Arun Dhumal, chairman of the IPL Governing Council, expressed his disappointment over the situation, labeling it as “unfortunate.” 

Dhumal pointed out that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had assured the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of the players’ availability for the entire tournament. “It was given as a commitment that they will be available for the entire tournament. It was indeed very unfortunate with the way things happened this time around,” Dhumal told Sportstar. 

He further explained that a change in leadership at the ECB led to a lack of awareness about pre-planned bilateral series, causing the confusion.

The bilateral series between England and Pakistan, which is part of the Future Tour Programs (FTP) from 2023 to 2027, was announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in August 2022. This announcement came before the appointments of ECB chairman Richard Thompson and CEO Richard Gould in September 2022 and February 2023, respectively. Despite this, a communication gap seemed evident when England’s World Cup squad was announced, prompting the selected players to return home for the series starting on May 22.

Rob Key, England’s team managing director, mentioned that captain Jos Buttler advocated for the English players to withdraw from the IPL playoffs. Despite efforts to negotiate, several England players, including Buttler and Phil Salt, left India before the IPL league stage concluded. 

“We have had good discussions with the ECB and hopefully, it won’t happen again in the future. A few people who had earlier committed to this aren’t with the ECB now, but ideally, even if there was a change of guard, things should have happened the way it was planned,” Dhumal said, adding that the BCCI “will take the required corrective actions” moving forward.

The sudden departure of the England players forced the four playoff-qualifying franchises to scramble for contingency plans. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar suggested imposing financial penalties on players who leave the tournament midway. Since its inception in 2008, the IPL has consistently featured overseas players, integral to its success and global appeal.

Dhumal emphasized the importance of cooperation between the IPL and other cricket boards. “We have always discussed with all the boards regarding player availability and in case a player needs to go back due to genuine reasons, we definitely allow that. They have been quite cooperative so far,” he noted. He also highlighted the IPL’s status as the second-largest league globally, attributing its success to the strong partnerships with other cricket boards.

In addition to the player availability issue, the debate around the Impact Player rule has also been prominent. This rule, which allows a mid-innings substitution, has faced criticism from notable cricketers like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. 

Dhumal, however, defended the rule, stating that it has positively impacted the tournament and resonated well with fans. “It has made a significant impact and the fans loved the way the tournament went about it,” Dhumal said, adding that the Board would consider feedback before deciding on any changes.

As the IPL prepares for future seasons, the focus will be on addressing these challenges and ensuring smoother operations.