Ahead of England-Pakistan series, Jos Buttler says no international cricket should clash with IPL

All major England players like Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali and Buttler etc left their respective Indian Premier League franchise before playoffs and conclusion of the league stage, to participate in England's four-match T20I series against Pakistan at home, which starts with the first T20I at Leeds on Wednesday.

Speaking ahead of the game, which also marks the day when his IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals will play Royal Challengers Bengaluru , he defended England and Wales Cricket Board decision to pull the World Cup-bound players away from the cash-rich league. He also said that such clashes between international and franchise cricket should not be happening.

"I said, 'Look, as an England captain, my main priority is to be playing for England'. It is my personal opinion that there should not be any international cricket that clashes with the IPL," said Buttler as quoted by Wisden.