Michael Vaughan, former England captain, has come down hard on the ECB’s decision to call back the players for the ongoing Pakistan T20I series.

The decision by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has been hugely debated since England players Will Jacks (Royal Challengers Bengaluru), Phil Salt (Kolkata Knight Riders) and Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals) and the rest were ordered to return for international duty.

Had they not been called back, then Jos Buttler, Will Jacks, and Phil Salt would’ve been involved in the IPL 2024 playoffs. And Michael Vaughan and former Australia keeper Adam Gilchrist feel that it would’ve been better preparation for the T20 World Cup than playing Pakistan.

"I think England missed a trick by sending all their players home. I think Will Jacks, Phil Salt, Jos Buttler in particular, playing in the IPL in the eliminations (playoffs), pressure, crowd, expectation, I would argue that playing here is better preparation than playing a T20 game against Pakistan,” Vaughan said on 'Club Prairie Fire' podcast.

Vaughan went on to say that he is not advocating prioritizing club cricket before international service and that his opinion is based on a comparison of the pressures of playing in the IPL playoffs against a T20 international in terms of preparing for the next T20 World Cup in June.

"I am all for international cricket, but...this tournament (IPL) in particular is so exposed to pressure...players are under a huge amount of pressure from fans, owners, social media; it's massive," said the former batsman.

I just felt Buttler, probably not as much but I still think he could have stayed here, but Will Jacks and Phil Salt, I think they would have been better prepared (for the T20 World Cup) staying here and playing in the IPL than going back to Headingley to play a (T20I) game. I am not disrespecting Pakistan or the England side. They haven't been playing a lot of T20 cricket together but I would say the standard here (IPL) would possibly be better...," Vaughan added.

Adam Gilchrist said: "I am sure there are a number of (England) players who could have fulfilled those obligations (for the T20I series against Pakistan) in the international setup there, but the guys that were actively involved in the IPL, in the finals period (should have stayed back). I think that's a missed opportunity, spot on.”

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