Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan has given a strong response to Sunil Gavaskar and Irfan Pathan’s criticism of English players dropping out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. He feels the tournament schedule was not very good because it was made too late.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises dealt a heavy blow in the final week of the league phase of the tournament. The England and Wales Cricket Board called up the England players because they wanted them to be available for international matches.

England are scheduled to face Pakistan in the four-match T20I series starting May 22. The series will be extremely crucial for the team as it will serve as a great preparation for them ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, which will begin on June 1.

The ECB wanted all their players to have some playing time before the World Cup and that’s why they called them up again. But this has left a big void for IPL franchises, especially with the playoff phase just around the corner, which will begin on May 21.

Sunil Gavaskar and Irfan Pathan were not surprised when English players quit the IPL. While Gavaskar called for a penalty, Pathan said those players should play a full season or not play at all.

Michael Vaughan, however, believes it was fair enough for the English players to leave the IPL for international cricket. He said that with what happened with the team in the 2023 World Cup it was essential for them to put together the squad and work on a little culture. Speaking on Cricbuzz, he explained:

“If you are going to represent your country again, as the English players have done, I think it is quite fair. The series was on the calendar. With English cricket, the defense of the 50-over World Cup was poor by England here in India.

“I think Jos and his team, in 5 matches against Pakistan, come together.The run-up to the 50+ World Cup wasn’t perfect either. There were many exchanges and changes. Now they have played five games again, they have brought the whole team together, they have worked a little on the culture, everyone is playing their right role, I think that will give them a better opportunity.”

I think you would have thought it would have ended today: Michael Vaughan on England players leaving IPL

Michael Vaughan further blamed the IPL schedule for the exit of English players from the league before the playoffs. He said that before the tournament the ECB would have thought that the tournament would end on May 19. He added:

“Because the schedule always comes so late, I think England would have planned for it. I think they would have thought it would end today (May 19). The players would have come back.

“The players who played in today’s final would have stayed, those who didn’t would not have disappeared and England would have played all five matches (against Pakistan) with a full team.”

Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals), Will Jacks and Reece Topley (Royal Challengers Bengaluru), Phil Salt (Kolkata Knight Riders) will miss the league playoffs.