England head coach Chris Silverwood feels that it is difficult to ask players to not play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the tournament is a marquee event in the shortest format of the game.
“It is very difficult to say to the players that no you can’t play IPL. You can’t say no if you just see the numbers. IPL is a marquee cricket event in T20 world and so it’s very difficult,” Silverwood has said in a virtual interaction with the media.
“I don’t think it’s an issue because players are playing fantastic high level of T20 cricket which can only benefit us really. Moving forward it benefits the player. Obviously, players make their own minds up about competitions they go in but we benefit from their playing,” he added.
There have been talks that Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and stumper Jos Buttler could miss their home Test series against New Zealand in June to IPL but Silverwood said that he wants to see the positive side of the situation.
“One of the things that I feel is it gives the opportunity to people. It’s exciting for me to see people make debuts, see people do well. As I said, I see the exciting side about it. No, I want them to do well, supportive of the decision they make really. If they are picked, it will be brilliant and I can only wish that they do well, get knowledge of conditions and improve as players,” he said.