Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan recently had a light-hearted exchange with a Pakistani journalist, accepting his apology in a cheeky manner. This interaction came after Pakistan’s 2-0 defeat to England in a four-match T20I series ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Vaughan had previously commented that the ECB should have permitted key England players—captain Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, and Will Jacks—to participate in the IPL 2024 playoffs instead of the T20I series against Pakistan.
The Pakistani journalist took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his regret:
“Hey, Michael Vaughan. I’m sorry, I apologize! You were right and I’m embarrassed. England players should have played IPL playoffs and final.”
He added a harsh critique of the Pakistan team:
“Even a Ranji Trophy team could defeat us. Delhi Capitals or Punjab Kings will win one-sided against this Pakistan team. I’m worried about our matches vs Canada & USA in the World Cup. This is the worst period in Pakistan cricket in years.”
Vaughan responded with a thumbs-up emoji and a concise reply:
“Apology accepted.”
What Did Michael Vaughan Say During the England vs Pakistan T20I Series?
Vaughan argued that Buttler, Salt, and Jacks would have been better prepared for the World Cup by playing in the IPL playoffs, where they would face high-pressure situations and large, enthusiastic crowds. He elaborated on his views during the Club Prairie Fire podcast:
“England missed the trick by sending all their players home. You know, I think Will Jacks, Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, in particular, playing in the IPL, in the eliminations, pressure, crowd, expectations, I would argue that playing here is better preparation than playing a T20 game against Pakistan.”
He continued:
“I’m all for international cricket but now and again, this tournament, in particular, is so exposed to pressure. And these players, under a huge amount of pressure from fans, owners, [and] social media, it’s massive. I just felt, particularly those two and Buttler, probably not as much, but I still think he could have stayed here. But Will Jacks and Phil Salt, I think they would have been better prepared staying here, playing the IPL, than playing back to the Headingley to play a game.”
Pakistan’s T20 World Cup campaign kicks off against the USA in Dallas on June 6. Placed in Group A alongside India, Canada, Ireland, and the USA, the Men in Green aim to bounce back from their recent performance. They reached the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup, ultimately falling to champions England.
