By Zainab Shafiq 
In a surprising turn of events, Jofra Archer, the English fast bowler, has been spotted playing cricket in Barbados without the knowledge of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Archer, who was withdrawn from the IPL 2024 due to injury concerns, was seen actively participating in a match for his old school team, Foundation.
The controversy arises as Archer has been on a rehabilitation journey after suffering a stress fracture during IPL 2023, keeping him out of action since April. This setback also meant he couldn’t participate in the World Cup 2023, as his recovery process took longer than expected. Despite the ECB’s cautious approach, Archer took the field for Foundation against Lord’s, showcasing his prowess by picking up an impressive 4 wickets for just 18 runs.
The ECB, unaware of Archer’s clandestine cricket activities, is now faced with questions about the management of the pacer’s rehabilitation and fitness. Rob Key, the director of the ECB, expressed surprise when asked about Archer’s recent cricket outing. “I’m not aware of that, I’ll find out,” Key said, highlighting a potential communication gap within the board regarding the player’s activities.
Archer was not included in the five-match Test series against India, signaling that he is currently not in the ECB’s immediate plans. Rob Key shed light on the board’s cautious approach, stating, “We’re just going to take it slow with him. We don’t want to put any sort of deadlines on him. If it takes an extra couple of months, but he gets another couple of years out of his career and gets back fully, he’s worth his weight in gold.”
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