Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has slammed the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for allowing its players from the Test squad to participate in the finals of The Hundred tournament.
Chopra questioned the passive reaction of the cricket fraternity of ECB creating a window for the Hundred between the ongoing Test series against India.
The final stages of the tournament were scheduled between the second and third Tests. Players contracted in the league were released from the England squad to play for their respective franchises.
The cricketer-turned broadcaster wondered what the reaction would be like if BCCI organized IPL between a Test series.
“Imagine BCCI creating a window for the final stages of the IPL to be held between a Test series. The whole world would’ve been up in arms about how commercial Indian cricket has become blah blah,” Aakash Chopra wrote on Twitter.
He also questioned and was critical about England releasing players from the Test squad, especially when they are 0-1 down in the five-match Test series. Moeen Ali and Craig Overton were released from the England Test squad to play for Birmingham Phoenix and Southern Brave respectively.
“Imagine India 0-1 after Two Tests in a home series and the Indian players involved in the Test series participating in a franchise-based limited-overs league between the two Tests. What furore it would’ve created!!!” Chopra added.
The two players will return to the Test team before the third Test that starts on 25 August at Headingly, Leeds.
