Geoffrey Boycott Advises ECB To Take Harsh Measures Against Players If They Choose IPL Over National Duty

England legend Geoffrey Boycott has slammed his countrymen for their inclination towards franchise cricket over national duty, considering their recent crushing defeat in India in Tests. India’s spinners exposed English batsmen’s weakness against spin brutally as they came back from 0-1 to beat the tourists by 3-1 in four matches. Geoffrey Boycott has advised England Cricket Board to resort to harsh measures if players put IPL ahead of national duty.

Former English captain Nasser Hussain also said the same that England’s multi-format players must take responsibility to prioritize Test cricket over IPL. But head coach Chris Silverwood has said that cricketers have the allowance to skip the home Test series against New Zealand if their IPL teams reach the knockout stage. Several England players have also found it difficult to deny the lucrative IPL deals they earn.

Geoffrey Boycott advised the ECB to slash players’ money if players take breaks from national duty and not select them unless they make themselves available for a whole series. Boycott feels that the ECB should be ashamed and embarrassed for how they are running English cricket.

“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,” Boycott said as quoted by Times of India.

England messed up with a rotation policy in India: Geoffrey Boycott

Geoffrey Boycott further said that the management messed up with their rotation policy in India and should stop treating their players as weak and vulnerable. The 80-year old reminded that IPL has knocked on their doors only because they performed for England. Thus, they owe it to perform their national duty first and should not earn money by skipping matches for England.

“England messed up with a rotation policy in India and must stop treating players in a namby-pamby way. Players seem to forget that IPL would not come calling for them if they had not performed for England first. So, they owe a debt of gratitude and loyalty to put England first. I would never stop them from earning that but not by missing games for England to do it,” he added.

Also Read: India Might As Well Field Two Playing Elevens Out There: Ravi Shastri