England’s Harry Brook banned from IPL for two years

England batter Harry Brook has been banned from the Indian Premier League (IPL) for two years after he pulled out at the last minute to focus on international cricket, local media reported Friday.

The 26-year-old, considered a frontrunner to replace Jos Buttler as England’s white-ball captain, was signed to Delhi Capitals for the IPL season beginning next week.

It’s worth noting that Harry Brook also withdrew from his IPL contract with the Delhi side last season after the death of his grandmother.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has been informed about Brooks’s ban, an unnamed official from the Board of Control for Cricket in Indian (BCCI) told the Indian Express newspaper.

The ban was part of a policy “informed to each player before they registered their name for IPL auction last year”, the official said.

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The rules are designed to prevent late pullouts from the money-spinning T20 league by overseas players. However, exceptions can be made, mostly for injuries.

Brook this week apologised on social media “unreservedly to the Delhi Capitals and their supporters” for pulling out of the league “to recharge” and focus on international cricket.

“I have made the very difficult decision to pull out of the upcoming IPL,” Brook posted on his social media earlier this week.

“I apologise unreservedly to the Delhi Capitals and their supporters.”

Brook has played one season in the IPL, for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2023, when he scored a 55-ball century against Kolkata Knight Riders.

The 2025 IPL begins on March 22, when defending champions Kolkata host Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Eden Gardens.

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