ECB asks Jofra Archer to pull out of IPL 2024 auction keeping T20 World Cup 2024 in mind

Star England fast bowler Jofra Archer will not be playing in the IPL 2024 as he didn’t register his name for the mini-auction for the upcoming edition scheduled to take place on December 19 in Dubai. According to reports, Archer has been asked to pull out of the tournament as the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) is planning to take control of his workload ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 scheduled to be jointly hosted by the West Indies and the USA in June 2024.

The 28-year-old last played a professional cricket match in May 2023 during his stint in the IPL 2023 for Mumbai Indians. However, he could only play five matches in the season due to his recurring stress elbow fracture which eventually ruled him out of the T20 extravaganza.

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Archer also travelled as a reserve with the England team for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India. However, he once again experienced elbow pain while training in Mumbai and returned back home within a week. The Barbados-born cricketer recently signed a two-year central contract with the ECB running from running from October 2023 to September 2025. Hence, according to an ESPNCricinfo report, the ECB told Archer not to enter the IPL 2024 auction.

The English board reportedly believes that it will be easier to manage Archer’s comeback under their supervision in the UK in April and May than in India while he plays in the IPL. Rob Key, the managing director of England Men’s cricket, had mapped out a recovery plan for Archer after IPL 2023 along with Mumbai Indians medical staff who would oversee him during his stint for MI Cape Town in SA20 2024.

Archer will train with England squad in Barbados

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Notably, the speedster has been retained by MI Cape Town as a ‘wildcard’ player for the second season of the SA 20. However, his availability for the tournament will depend on his rehab progress. Archer will be training with the England’s white-ball teams in Barbados next week, but will not feature in either the ODI or the T20I series against West Indies beginning from December 03.