English players like Jos Buttler and Phil Salt, who are playing in the IPL 2024 for the Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders, respectively, could miss the upcoming four-match T20I series between England and Pakistan to be available for the playoffs of the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League, which starts on May 21 in Ahmedabad and ends on May 26 in Chennai.

According to a report in the Times of India on Sunday (May 5), it is not certain if England players will miss the playoffs because negotiations are on between the BCCI and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to secure their availability for the knockout matches.

“The franchises are in no mood to release their England players at this stage of the tournament, as they had planned accordingly at the auction. Talks are on between the BCCI and the ECB to resolve this issue,” a source was quoted as saying by TOI.

It has been reported that before the IPL 2024 auction on December 19, 2023, the English Cricket Board had confirmed the availability of their players for the entire duration of the tournament.

“Yes, the BCCI has taken it up (with the ECB). I hope the ECB keeps their commitment they made before the auction. This type of ad-hoc withdrawal of players will come with consequences,” another source added.

England-Pakistan series starts on May 22

Before the start of the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and USA, England will face Pakistan in a four-match T20I series that starts on May 22 in Leeds.

In the 15-member squad announced by the ECB for the Pakistan series and T20 World Cup 2024, Buttler and Salt were included along with Will Jacks, Moeen Ali, Reece Topley, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, and Liam Livingstone. But all these players are currently engaged in the IPL, and their teams are alive in the race to qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs.