Gavaskar urges consequences for overseas players leaving IPL prematurely | Indian Premier League 2024

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has called for Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises to have the power to penalize players who exit the competition early to attend to national duty. With reports suggesting that England players may miss the playoffs due to their bilateral series against Pakistan, Gavaskar believes that players should be held accountable for breaking their commitments to their franchises.

In his column for mid-day, Gavaskar expressed his support for players prioritizing their country but emphasized the importance of honoring agreements made with franchises. He suggested that franchises should be allowed to deduct a substantial amount from a player’s fee if they leave early, and proposed that the BCCI should not pay the 10% commission to the player’s home board in such cases.

Gavaskar also highlighted the disparity in treatment between the IPL and other T20 leagues, where home boards do not receive a commission for allowing players to participate. He stressed the need for transparency and communication between players and franchises to avoid any misunderstandings.

The former cricketer acknowledged that players leaving early for international duty is acceptable if communicated in advance, but criticized the practice of players pulling out mid-way without notice. If England players do leave the IPL early as rumored, teams like Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders will be without key players like Jos Buttler and Phil Salt.

Gavaskar’s comments have sparked a debate on player commitments and the relationship between franchises and national boards in the IPL, raising questions about the responsibilities of players and the consequences of their actions.