‘Either be available for full season or don’t come’ - Irfan Pathan's blunt take on players leaving IPL 2024 midway

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) asked its players to join the national team ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 next month. Some of them have already left their respective Indian Premier League (IPL) teams, while others are on the verge of doing so. England are the defending champions in the T20 World Cup, as they won the last edition of the tournament in 2022. They will be looking to win the title for an unprecedented third time next month.

The baord's decision forced many English players to leave their IPL franchises and fly back to the UK. Most of the players have already returned home for taking part in the three-match T20I series against Pakistan. Remaining players who are a part of the squad will also leave India soon for national commitments. England captain Jos Buttler, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Reece Topley and Phil Salt include the list of players who have headed back.

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This hasn't gone down well with a few cricket experts, including veteran batter Sunil Gavaskar. After Gavaskar, Irfan Pathan too has issued a stern warning for the players who are leaving the cash-rich league midway through the season. The former India all-rounder, Pathan, said that players should either be present for the entire duration of the IPL season or should refrain from participating altogether.

“Either be available for full season or don’t come!” the cricketer-turned-commentator wrote on his official 'X' (previously Twitter) handle.

Legendary former India opener Gavaskar had recently claimed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should punish the players who are leaving IPL midway and cut the 10% fees of ECB that the cricket board gets from each player participating in the cash-rich league.

Also Read: 'They need to be penalised' - Sunil Gavaskar speaks on England players' IPL departure

The summit clash of IPL 2024 is scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 26. Meanwhile, the T20 World Cup 2024 is set to get underway on June 2. The Three Lions have been placed in Group B alongside Scotland, Australia, Oman, and Namibia. England will begin their campaign on June 4 against neighbours Scotland for title defense.