The IPL Teams like RCB, RR and PBKS have been caught off-guard after their contracted players from England started leaving the IPL 2024 midway in a bid to prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. The likes of Jos Buttler, Will Jacks, Reece Topley and Liam Livingstone have bid adieu to their respective IPL teams and headed back to England.
With the T20 World Cup 2024 just around the corner, the international cricketers were bound to leave their franchise duties to fulfil their national duties. The formalities to name the replacements for the rest of the IPL season are being finalised by the teams.
The respective IPL franchises announced the premature departure of their contracted players with a social media post, wishing their players the best for the future.
Among all, Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will be massively impacted by the outgoing of the English players. While Jos Buttler has played a key role in RR’s dominance this season, Will Jacks has helped RCB in reviving their dull campaign towards the last phase of the ongoing IPL 2024.
As Punjab Kings (PBKS) is already eliminated from the tournament, they won’t be bothered with the departure of Liam Livingstone. Moreover, the PBKS batter had an underwhelming season with the bat as he could only score 111 runs in 8 IPL outings.
“IPL done for another year, had to get my knee sorted for the upcoming World Cup,” Livingstone wrote on his Instagram wall.
“Thanks once again to the Punjab Kings fans for all their love and support. Disappointing season as a team and personally, but as always, I loved every minute of playing in the IPL,” he added.
Wishing luck to their players, RCB wrote, “Jacksy and Toppers are heading back home for international duties and we wish them all the very best. You were incredible in the camp and on the field this IPL. See you soon, lads.”
Meanwhile, RR opener Jos Buttler asked his franchise officials, “Facetime me with the trophy. Yeah.”
Ahead of their T20 World Cup 2024 run, which will begin on June 04 against Scotland in Barbados, England are set to host Pakistan for a 4-match T20I series. The series gets underway on May 22 in Leeds. The two sides will travel to Birmingham for the second game followed by a stop in Cardiff and London respectively.
Below is the complete schedule for England vs Pakistan T20I series:
1st T20I: Leeds – May 22
2nd T20I: Birmingham – May 25
3rd T20I: Cardiff – May 28
4th T20I: London – May 30
