“Can’t Ignore Financial Advantages Of IPL” – Jos Butler Says Afer Boycott’s Controversial Remark

Some England players are going to miss the New Zealand Test series which is starting from June 2 because of their commitment in the cash-rich IPL. Butler’s comments came in the light of the same debate.

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England batsman, Jos Butler has admitted that it is difficult to oversee the advantages provided by IPL. England players will miss the New Zealand Test series beginning from June 2. Butler was speaking against the backdrop of this very discussion of prioritizing national duty over IPL. His comments come after a day ex-England player wrote in a column in Daily Telegraph that, “I bet you will not see any of our players leaving the IPL because they miss their wife, girlfriend or kids. If players want to go home for a break from England duty, dock their money. Better still don't select them unless they can agree to be available for a whole series. It is a barmy way to run English cricket, they should all be ashamed and embarrassed."

Butler was speaking at a press conference when he was seen defending his decision. “I don’t know about other players. I think an agreement about participation in IPL was in place well before the New Zealand Test series was announced,” Butler said.

He counted the benefits of IPL as a player, he said: “We all know the benefits of IPL. It’s a huge tournament and monetary rewards are obvious and also the experience you gain and it has its pluses too. And it’s obvious in the upturn of white ball game in England, and number of players participating in it and how beneficial it is to all of us.”

England cricket is also divided on the controversial rotational policy of the ECB. Cricketers like Nasser Hussain have criticized this policy openly before. Butler also had something to say in that regards, he said: “Of course the schedule is tough and there is no perfect balance to it and ECB and players are working closely trying to manage that.”

There are 12 English players currently in the IPL so it would be difficult to guess who would play and who would miss on the series starting from June 2. IPL ends on May 29.

Later, Butler also went on praising the IPL and started counting the benefits of the tournament. “IPL is advantageous to a lot of people with the money that’s involved. It’s the biggest tournament in cricket in terms of money and careers can be short but we know that playing for England can be a huge draw and we are very well remunerated playing for England

“Obvious benefits of the player improvement, skills that you get to learn, especially this year playing IPL in India, where world T20 will be played,” he concluded.