LONDON: England have selected five Indian Premier League players in their one-day squad to face the West Indies, including former captain Jos Buttler, but have not ruled out allowing them to skip the series.
A fixture clash looms after the lucrative T20 tournament was suspended last week as a result of deadly military exchanges between India and Pakistan.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has decided to stage the 17 outstanding matches following a ceasefire agreement, with the tournament due to end on June 3.
England play three ODIs against West Indies, on May 29, June 1 and June 3 — the first series since Harry Brook was appointed as their full-time white ball captain.
England cricket chiefs are keen to show support for the BCCI but also want to put out a full-strength team.
As of Tuesday, they had taken no firm decision on how to respond to the latest developments.
Buttler’s Gujarat Titans are top of the IPL table and the recalled Will Jacks (Mumbai Indians) and Jacob Bethell (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) could also be needed for the play-offs.
The other two IPL players who have been selected to face the West Indies, pacemen Jofra Archer and Jamie Overton, are with teams who cannot reach the finals.
British media reports said all 10 English players involved with the IPL will hold a meeting with the Professional Cricketers’ Association over security arrangements for a potential return to India.
An ECB spokesman said Tuesday: “We’re keen to support the IPL and the BCCI in getting the schedule up and running, and to facilitate players’ return should they choose to go back.
“No objection certificates have been granted based on the original IPL dates, so we’ll need to review any potential extensions, particularly in relation to any clash with the final white-ball squad. We’ll continue to work closely with the BCCI and the IPL as the situation develops.” England also announced on Tuesday a squad for a three-match T20 series against the West Indies, starting on June 6.
All-rounder Liam Dawson has returned to England’s T20 squad for the first time since 2022. Luke Wood and Tom Hartley, who have not played white-ball cricket for England since September 2023, have returned to the T20 and the ODI sides respectively.
England will also play a four-day test with Zimbabwe, starting May 22 at Trent Bridge.
Squads:
ODI: Harry Brook (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jamie Smith.
T20: Harry Brook (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Luke Wood.
Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2025
