In a big development that would throw the plans of various franchises in disarray, star England players such as Jonny Bairstow, Chris Woakes, Dawid Malan have pulled out of the second phase of the Indian Premier League scheduled to commence on September 19.
Notably, all of these players are contenders for places in the England Test team that is scheduled to travel to Australia for the Ashes series towards the end of the year.
Notably, Buttler had already pulled himself out of the tournament last month.
Buttler plays for the Rajasthan Royals while Bairstow represents the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. Woakes has had an on and off journey in the IPL was brilliant for the Delhi Capitals in the first part of the IPL 2021 while Dawid Malan started his journey with the Punjab Kings in this edition only.
There is a lack of clarity on other England players such as Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone, who had pulled out of the first part of the event albeit it is understood that Moeen will travel to join the Chennai Super Kings.
All those stars for both England and IPL sides will also travel to the UAE for the ICC World T20 scheduled right after the conclusion of the IPL 2021 and hence extended period inside biosecure bubbles would have tricked them to decide against joining their IPL franchises.
The likes of Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes are already out of the tournament as they are going through their rehabilitation processes and the absence of other marquee players will limit England's exposure to the IPL in similar conditions where the T20 World Cup has been scheduled to be played.