IPL 2019: ECB directs Jofra Archer and other England players to return by April 26

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced the team’s 15-man preliminary squad for the World Cup. Along with that they also picked Jofra Archer and Chris Jordan for the upcoming Pakistan ODI series. With the international assignments set to start, England’s players participating in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) will have to leave the tournament early now.

The ECB has directed the players to return to the country on or before April 26 according to the statement on their official website. The team affecting the most would be the Rajasthan Royals (RR) as Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer will miss out for them. Sam Billings is with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and he will also return. Though he hasn’t played a game so far this season and won’t affect that team’s chances much.

SRH will also suffer

Meanwhile, the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will also suffer as their wicket-keeper batsman Jonny Bairstow will leave for England in the next few days. They have the likes of Wriddhiman Saha and Shreevats Goswami in the squad as well and one of them will surely come into the playing XI. Even David Warner will also leave soon and then Martin Guptill is likely to get an opportunity.

Though it remains to be seen who gets the chance to open the innings. Will it be the Kiwi duo of Williamson and Guptill at the top of the order? Or it will be Saha or Goswami assisting Guptill? SRH are currently at the sixth position with three wins from seven matches and they would love to notch up a few more wins before their gun players leave.

The case for the Royals will even get worse as Steve Smith will leave them on May 2 along with Warner but they look unlikely to make it to the playoffs this year.

[interaction id=”5cb5c7d16fdf9a9036e425e8″]

Get the latest Cricket News and updates from the Indian Premier League (IPL), Match Predictions, Fantasy Cricket Tips and lots more on CricTracker.com.