by England Test captain Ben Stokes will miss out on next year’s Indian Premier League after opting out of this month’s player auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The IPL has confirmed that 52 Englishmen are among the 1,574 people who have put forward their names to go under the hammer on November 24-25, but the PA news agency understands Stokes is not among that number.
Stokes withdrew from this year’s IPL and the T20 World Cup in order to focus on his fitness and become a full-fledged all-rounder again for the Test series against the West Indies and Sri Lanka.
✍️ 1574 player registrations
🧢 320 capped players, 1,224 uncapped players and 30 players from associated nations
🎰 204 slots to win
🗓️ November 24 and 25, 2024
📍 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Read all the details for the next one #TATAIPL Mega auction 🔽🤩
– IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) November 5, 2024
A hamstring injury suffered during the Hundred led Stokes to miss the 2-1 win over Sri Lanka and the series opener last month in Pakistan, and it appears he is once again prioritizing to the England Test team.
The only problem in Stokes’ decision also means he will not be able to participate in the 2026 IPL, with new rules decreeing that foreign players who did not participate in that auction would not be eligible for the year next.
With Stokes, the IPL’s most valuable player in 2017, out, it has been reported that former England teammate James Anderson, who has not played a T20 since August 2014, has thrown his hat in the mix. ring.
The 42-year-old holds the record for the most Test wickets by a non-spinner in history, ending his England career in emotional scenes at Lord’s in July before subsequently settling into a role of coach.
But Anderson has yet to officially announce his retirement and told PA in August that he felt he “could do a job” on the franchise circuit.
The IPL, which is yet to reveal when its 18th edition will begin and end, although it took place from March 22 to May 26 this year, has not released the identities of those who participated. presented.
With each franchise able to have a maximum squad of 25 players, there are 204 spots up for auction and a full list will be released in the coming weeks.
A total of 46 players were retained by the 10 teams, but none were English, with England captain Jos Buttler being released after seven seasons with Rajasthan Royals.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has not revealed who among its centrally contracted players are up for auction.
