Jos Buttler (Gujarat Titans), Will Jacks (Mumbai Indians) and Jacob Bethell’s (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) availability for the IPL 2025 playoffs is in limbo after they were picked in England's ODI squad for the series against West Indies.
The BCCI released the revised schedule for the 18th edition of IPL on Monday (May 12). The tournament was suspended last week owing to India-Pakistan tensions at the border.
A ceasefire was announced on Saturday (May 10), and hence, the organisers took the call to restart the cash-rich league on May 17. The final will now be played on June 3.
However, the IPL playoffs will now coincide with the three-match ODI series between England and West Indies, starting May 29. The remaining two ODIs will be played on June 1 and 3, respectively.
The trio is expected to return to India for the league stage of IPL 2025. However, they need to obtain fresh NOCs from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) if they are to participate in the playoffs.
If the troika features in the playoffs, provided their teams reach that far, they will be missing the 50-over series against the West Indies. Qualifier 1 and Eliminator of the IPL 2025 season will be played on May 29 and 30, respectively, while Qualifier 2 will take place on June 1.
Earlier, the ECB had issued NOCs to all IPL-bound English players till May 25 (the original date of the final). Since the tournament has now been extended by eight days, the players would be needing fresh NOCs.
GT, MI and RCB are in the top four of the points table and are expected to qualify for the playoffs.
"We're keen to support the IPL and the BCCI in getting the schedule up and running, and to facilitate players' return should they choose to go back," an ECB spokesperson said, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
"No Objection Certificates have been granted based on the original IPL dates, so we'll need to review any potential extensions, particularly in relation to any clash with the final white-ball squad," the spokesperson added. "We'll continue to work closely with the BCCI and the IPL as the situation develops."
Jofra Archer (Rajasthan Royals) and Jamie Overton (Chennai Super Kings) have also been selected in the ODI squad, though their franchises have already been knocked out of the playoffs race.
RCB’s opening batter Phil Salt is expected to be available for the entire tournament, given that he has not been named in the ODI squad for the West Indies series.
England ODI squad: Harry Brook (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Potts, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jamie Smith
