Jofra Archer will not be rushed back from his elbow injury to play in the Indian Premier League, according to Rajasthan Royals boss Kumar Sangakkara… despite the franchise paying £800,000 for his services
- Jofra Archer missed much of England’s all-formats tour to India across March
- Fast bowler Archer also had a recent operation to remove glass from his hand
- IPL franchise faces the Punjab Kings in their season-opening game on Monday
Rajasthan Royals will not jeopardise Jofra Archer’s England future by rushing him back for this year’s Indian Premier League.
The ‘English’ IPL franchise will this week decide, along with England, whether Archer can play any part in this year’s tournament following his ongoing elbow problems and an operation to remove glass from his hand after an accident at home.
And while Rajasthan’s director of cricket Kumar Sangakkara remains hopeful England’s premier fast bowler will be able to fly to India for the latter part of the two-month long competition, he insists Royals will consider the bigger picture.
Indian Premier League side Rajasthan Royals will not rush Jofra Archer back from injury
The England fast bowler played a limited part in March’s India tour due to an elbow injury
The IPL side renewed his £800,000 contract for this year’s tournament but he may not play
‘We want to give him every opportunity to recover and be able to play some part in this tournament,’ said Sangakkara ahead of Rajasthan’s first game of this year’s IPL against Punjab Kings on Monday.
‘We have to be concerned about him as a player because his career is long term and is not restricted to just one season and the IPL.
‘His value to world cricket and to England cricket is part of our decision and we will be guided by the experts in English cricket who look after Jofra. It’s not something we look at selfishly and we take a holistic view of how important Jofra is.’
Royals director Kumar Sangakkara (left) is keen to look out for Archer’s career in the long term
The ‘English’ franchise boasts the England stars Ben Stokes (right) and Liam Livingstone (left)
Talismanic wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler (left) could open for the XI along with Stokes
The Sri Lankan great admitted his franchise thought long and hard before renewing Archer’s £800,000 contract for this year’s event in light of his persistent elbow problems forcing him to miss red and white ball chunks of England’s India tour.
‘It was a tough decision,’ added Sangakkara, who also has Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone in his squad. ‘The injury concern was flagged up going into the auction but he was playing excellently for England.
‘So the chances of him playing in the IPL from the start and being managed by the experts was realistic. But we have contingency plans in place now and no risks will be taken.’
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