“Playing IPL is better than playing Pakistan” – Michael Vaughan Criticizes ECB’s Recall All Players from IPL for Pakistan Series
Former England captain Michael Vaughan criticized the decision to recall England’s IPL players for a T20 series against Pakistan, suggesting it deprived them of valuable playoff experience that could have better prepared them for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Vaughan’s comments came during a Club Prairie Fire podcast, where he emphasized the pressure-cooker situations of the IPL playoffs as ideal preparation for high-stakes international tournaments.
Key England players like Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, and Will Jacks were among those called back by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for the series against Pakistan. Vaughan argued that playing in the IPL playoffs, with the intense pressure from fans, owners, and social media, would have been more beneficial than playing a T20 series against Pakistan.
“I’m all for international cricket, but now and again this tournament (IPL) in particular is so exposed to pressure, and these players are under a huge amount of pressure from fans, owners (and) social media, it’s massive,” Vaughan said.
Vaughan’s remarks were echoed by other former cricketers, including Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar, who also criticized the decision. Vaughan noted that the IPL’s high standard and intense environment could have provided better preparation for the T20 World Cup, which starts on June 2 in the West Indies and USA.
Michael Vaughan Says It Would Have Been Better for England Players to Play in IPL Than Playing vs Pakistan
In particular, Vaughan felt that Phil Salt and Will Jacks could have gained valuable lessons in handling pressure, which would be crucial for their performance in the T20 World Cup. He pointed out that the first match of the series at Headingley was washed out, and while England won the second match by 23 runs, the experience didn’t match the IPL’s playoff intensity.
“They (ECB) have missed the trick by sending all their players home. Will Jacks, Phil Salt, (and) Jos Buttler in particular, playing in the IPL in the Eliminations pressure, crowd expectation, I would argue that playing here (IPL) is better preparation than playing a T20 game against Pakistan. Will Jacks and Phil Salt, they would have been better prepared (for T20 WC) staying here playing in the IPL than going back to Headingley to play a game,” Vaughan further added.
Vaughan clarified that his criticism was not meant to disrespect the series against Pakistan or the players involved but to highlight the IPL’s unique and rigorous preparation environment. He believed that the IPL’s competitive nature and the challenges it presents are unparalleled, providing an optimal platform for players to gear up for global tournaments like the T20 World Cup.
19:30 IST
