WPL clashes with NZ T20Is leave England players in dilemma

ECB has told WPL players that if they remain in India until the tournament ends, they will be ineligible for the first three T20Is in New Zealand.

A clash between the final of the Women's Premier League (WPL) in India and a bilateral T20I series in New Zealand will force England's women to choose between club and country.

The BCCI confirmed this week that the final of the WPL will be played in Delhi on the evening of 17 March, with the first of five women's T20Is scheduled to be played in Dunedin on the afternoon of 19 March. Logistically, it would be impossible for players to play both.

ESPNcricinfo understands that the ECB has informed the players involved in the WPL that if they remain in India until the end of the tournament, it will mean that they will not be considered for selection for the first three T20Is in New Zealand. There is an expectation that the squads for the tour will be named next week.

Seven England players will be playing in the WPL 2024: Alice Capsey (Delhi Capitals), Issy Wong, Nat Sciver-Brunt (both Mumbai Indians), Kate Cross, Heather Knight (both Royal Challengers Bangalore), Sophie Ecclestone and Danni Wyatt (UP Warriorz). England head coach Jon Lewis has the same role with UP Warriorz.

The players involved have reportedly weighed several factors in their decisions. Their WPL salaries range from INR 30 lakh (about £30,000) to INR 3.2 crore (about £320,000) and while some players are certain starters for both their franchises and England, others have had to consider their prospects of playing for either side.

The choices have been further complicated by the recent sharp increase in the England women's playing fee, brought in line with the men's last year, and the proximity of the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh later this year. Knight has presumably committed herself for the entire New Zealand tour.

On Friday, Lauren Bell withdrew from the WPL, where she was due to play for UP Warriorz. In a statement from the ECB, she said that her withdrawal was "in order to have the best possible preparation for the New Zealand tour". Bell's decision to withdraw from the entire competition is in line with the WPL rules. The franchise was able to sign a replacement in Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu.

When a similar conflict arose in December, the ECB took a hard line with the players. Bess Heath and Danielle Gibson both missed the WBBL final in Australia to join England's squad in Mumbai ahead of a T20I series that started four days later, although neither played in the first T20I.

This is in contrast to New Zealand Cricket, which allowed Amelia Kerr to miss a T20I against Pakistan to play in the WBBL final. Along with Sophie Devine (RCB), Kerr (Mumbai Indians) is one of two New Zealanders playing in this year's WPL.