IPL 2021: Jos Buttler unlikely to be available for second leg of IPL if it clashes with England series

Second phase of IPL 2021 is likely to clash with England's white-ball tours of Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Jos Buttler | BCCI/IPLAfter its Special General Meeting (SGM) last month, BCCI had announced that the remaining 31 games of IPL 2021 will be held in UAE in the September-October window.

While BCCI didn’t comment on the availability of foreign players, ECB managing director Ashley Giles has already made it clear that the England players won’t be released for the remainder of IPL 14.

Meanwhile, England’s wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler has categorically said that he doesn't expect to feature in the second leg of IPL 2021, which is likely to clash with England's white-ball tours of Bangladesh and Pakistan.

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"Usually the pocket of the IPL doesn't clash with any international games, which makes it a very easy tournament to be available for. When it clashes with international cricket, England will take precedence I'd have thought," Buttler, who plays for Rajasthan Royals in the cash-rich event, quoted as saying by The Telegraph.

The 14th edition of Indian Premier League was postponed indefinitely on May 4 after multiple COVID-19 cases were reported in the bio-bubble of various franchises.

Buttler also expressed his reservations over England's rotation policy and scheduling amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"That's probably a really good question for all the administrators isn't it? I think in terms of how much cricket we play, we play a hell of a lot and we understand it's a short career and you want to be available and play as much as you can," he said.

"But at certain times, I don't think is possible - and I think Covid has complicated that even more. It's an age where we've got to look after people and applaud that the guys are trying to be forward-thinking. Is it perfect? No, of course it's not, I don't think so, but I'd rather we look after our guys.

"There's a lot of cricket left this year and there's some big cricket to come up. So, those breaks were put in there - I think it's important for everyone to be looked after really well."

After the suspension of IPL 2021, England internationals Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali had to serve a 10-day quarantine period upon landing in the homeland. They were also rested for two-match Test series against New Zealand earlier this month.

Buttler, however, is expected to take part in all five Tests against India at home, starting August 4.

"I think you do need an element of flexibility. You have to find a balance. We like to plan, and if you were just sucking it and seeing going into the biggest year of international cricket, you'd probably say that's quite a lack of planning. There has to be an element of flexibility," he said.

(With PTI inputs)

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 22 Jun, 2021

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