Should Stokes put IPL over England? KP, Ponting differ

Melbourne, The withdrawal of Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) from the IPL has reignited the country vs club debate. Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has lambasted ECB for calling back Stokes (Rising Pune Supergiant) and Buttler (Mumbai Indians) just before the knockout stage of the IPL. The two had been allowed to miss England’s three-match ODI series against Ireland but have been recalled by ECB to join a training camp in Spain. “I think it’s pathetic. An absolute shambles,” said Pietersen. “Stokes should be playing in the semifinals, and the final. The last week of IPL is a huge occasion.”
The duo has been called for a training camp in Spain ahead of the ODI series against South Africa and the subsequent Champions Trophy. “What are they going to Spain for? To field a couple of balls?” said Pietersen. “He should be playing in IPL. Just speak to him, speak to Jos Buttler, they’ll talk about how much it has helped their development being out there.” Stokes, bought by Pune for an astonishing sum of Rs 14.5 crore, starred with both bat and ball this season, scoring over 300 runs, including a sensational century, and taking 12 wickets.
Ponting’s view
It’s not a surprise to hear Pietersen putting club over country — he had the reputation of putting his own interests above the interests of the English team. Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who withdrew from the IPL in 2009 to focus on playing for Australia, has views very different from Pietersen’s. Ponting said he did not like ECB’s decision to allow Stokes and Buttler to play in the IPL at a time the national team was playing against Ireland.
“I was sitting there watching that One-day game (England vs Ireland) and noticed these other guys are over in India playing in the IPL, it doesn’t sit that well with me,” Ponting said. “I’m a bit old-school, a bit of a traditionalist with that sort of stuff. Mainly because playing for your county is what it’s all about.”
“What do they want to do? Do they want to be mercenaries and play T20 cricket all over the world?” Ponting wondered. “Or do they want to focus on being the best player they can be for England?”
In 2009, when Ponting pulled out of IPL-2, he had said: “My country comes first and there was no way I could give my all for Australia if I used the only two-week break we have to go and play in India.”