LONDON, May 28: The ECB says the schedule for England’s tour to the West Indies has not been designed to create a window for its players to take part in the IPL next year.

England’s tour to the Caribbean would end on April 3, a month earlier than the corresponding trip four years ago. That could leave the centrally contracted players time between international commitments to play in the IPL, which will run from April 10 to May 29.

Several players hoped a window would be found in the international schedule next year to enable them to play in the IPL.

But the ECB was at pains to point out that the West Indies tour dates do not give the players licence to depart for India at start of the hectic summer that culminates in the Ashes.—Agencies