England Cricket Star Pulls Out of IPL Deal at Last Minute

Indian Premier League has been struck a massive blow as England international has pulled out of the tournament at the last minute in order to preserve his international cricket career.

England opening batter Ben Duckett decided to withdraw from the tournament in order to cement his place in the national side.

In an exclusive interview with The Telegraph, Duckett said his decision was driven by his long-standing ambition to represent England at the highest level.

“Growing up as a kid, I dreamt of playing cricket for England, and that was it,” he said.

Duckett has already informed the Delhi Capitals of his withdrawal, a move that will cost him £200,000 and could lead to a potential three-year ban from the league.

He acknowledged that the decision was difficult and apologized to the franchise for not joining them this season.

The left-hander also expressed appreciation to Delhi Capitals for selecting him in the auction, calling it a significant opportunity to be part of one of the world’s top T20 competitions.

At 31, Duckett admitted there is uncertainty about whether he will get another chance to play in the IPL. He said the decision could mean missing out on the league entirely but believes it is the right choice for his career at this stage.

Ben Duckett’s recent form has been under scrutiny. During the Ashes series, he scored 221 runs at an average of 20 across five matches. He also came into the spotlight ahead of the fourth Test after a viral video allegedly showed him losing his way home during England’s break in Noosa.

His struggles continued into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where he spent the entire tournament on the bench as England crashed out in the semi-final of the mega event.

If a ban is enforced, Duckett could become the second England player after Harry Brook, who is already serving a two-year suspension after withdrawing from the tournament last year, to face IPL sanctions.