Jason Roy ends deal with England to play in US Major League Cricket
Ason Roy has given up his contract with England to take part in the first edition of Major League Cricket this summer.
Roy asked the ECB to be released to play in the US franchise tournament, which England granted on the condition that the first World Cup winner give up the rest of his additional contract.
The 32-year-old will not miss any England games to take part in the tournament, with Jos Buttler’s side not in white-ball action this summer until the end of August, but under the terms of their contract the ECB could have asked him to rest during the gap between the Vitality Blast and Hundred. Roy’s decision will not affect his future cap prospects, with the striker still England’s starting fly-half in ODI cricket ahead of their World Cup defense in India this fall.
In a statement, Roy insisted representing England remained his top priority.
“I wanted to make it clear that I am not and will never ‘leave England’,” Roy said. “Representing my country continues to be my proudest moment as a professional cricketer. I look forward to playing for England for many more years.
Roy is set to become the first England player to sign up for the new competition, which takes place in Texas in the last two weeks of July, with reports suggesting he is likely to feature for the LA Knight Riders, one of six newly formed teams, four of which are at least partially backed by IPL owners.
Roy has just returned from a stint with Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL and is set to make his first Surrey appearance of the season in Thursday’s Blast opener against Middlesex at Lord’s.
It is understood that Roy will still be available for the full Surrey’s Blast campaign, including final day on July 15 if the county comes to that, before flying to the US and then returning in time to play for Oval Invincibles in the Hundred.
Roy was demoted to a further deal last October, after being dropped by England’s T20 side ahead of their successful World Cup campaign, and will now forgo the rest of his salary until the contract expires end of September.
Progressive contracts are worth between £60,000 and £70,000 a year and Roy could earn more than double that amount for just two weeks of work in the US.
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