Tata IPL 2022: IPL franchise might avoid bidding high for English players in IPL 2022 Mega Auction

IPL franchise might avoid bidding high for English players in IPL 2022 Mega Auction: England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) might put restrictions on their players to feature in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL), following England?s dismal debacle in the ongoing Ashes 2021-22, which the visitors have already lost.

Several England cricketers have been a regular feature of the IPL. The players such as Jonny Bairstow, Eoin Morgan, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran etc have been an integral part of their respective franchises in the IPL. However, that could possibly now change as ECB is contemplating limiting the involvement in the IPL.

As per the reports, England?s abysmal outing against Australia in the ongoing Ashes is going to have severe repercussions on the cricketers. 

Ashley Giles, the managing director of ECB is chalking out plans and strategies to improve the situation of England?s test side. Giles is reported to be preparing a series of recommendations to improve its test side?s fortune.

Notably, the recommendations could also include capping Englishmen from taking part in the IPL 2022, which is likely to begin in April.

It is important to note that, ECB granted No Objection Certificates to some of its crucial test players to take part in the IPL 2021. The country?s top batters including Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler and Sam Curran had to miss England?s home two matches test series against New Zealand, which they lost.

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The Indian Premier League (IPL) has now been extended to a 10-team tournament, which means that the IPL window will get bigger from the coming season. The reports suggest that the extended IPL window will clash with England?s home summer.

The ECB wants their premier test playing cricketers to be fresh for the start of home summer in 2022. England will host New Zealand for a three matches test series to kickstart their home summer in 2022.

Former England skipper, Michael Atherton, has been criticising ECB for allowing its players to participate in the cash-rich IPL at the expense of national loss.

"The leading multi-format players are paid seven-figure sums, but, incredibly, the ECB washes its hands of them for two months of the year during the Indian Premier League," he wrote in the Times.

"The players should be told that, while the ECB will be accommodating of the request to play in IPL, a 12-month contract is exactly that, and the granting of a no-objection certificate to play in IPL and other franchised competitions is contingent on it being in the best interests of the England team. Players should not miss international duty to play in the IPL, nor be rested and rotated to allow them to play elsewhere."

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