India put IPL before Test cricket and set a dangerous precedent: Ex-Englad pacer

While the Indian Premier League is arguably the most prominent T20 tournament worldwide, a section of the cricket fraternity has been criticizing the competition. There have been many who have blamed the hosting of IPL for a variety of reasons. In a similar vein, Paul Newman, a former English cricketer, pointed the finger at the T20 league while talking about the upcoming fifth and rescheduled Test between India and England.

He alleged that the Indian cricket team prioritized the IPL above Test matches and that the players were not committed enough to finish the series last year. Notably, the Indian squad has gathered in England for a trip that will last a little over three weeks and includes the postponed Test, three T20Is, and as many ODIs.

“The arrival of India to complete a Test series that should have ended at Old Trafford last summer is a reminder of how they let down the paying public and Test cricket by pulling out of the final game on the morning of the match. It was laughable when the cancellation was blamed on Covid concerns and a game India never wanted to play was abandoned when they put the IPL before Test cricket and set a dangerous precedent,” Newman wrote in his latest column for The Daily Mail UK.

Newman wasn’t the only one to accuse the IPL of the tour’s midway postponement. Michael Vaughan, a former England captain, also had observed something similar. On September 11 last year, the former skipper tweeted: “IPL teams chartering planes .. 6 days quarantining required in the UAE .. 7 days till the tournament starts !!!! Don’t tell me the Test was canceled for any other reason but the IPL ..”

India and England will play the rescheduled Test match from July 1

India and England’s remaining Test match will begin on July 1 at Edgbaston in Birmingham. For the unversed, a  number of Covid-positive cases that arose in the Indian camp caused the match to be postponed from being played at Old Trafford last year. This time again, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma’s availability has not been confirmed yet as he is under isolation after testing positive.