Jason Roy planning to terminate ECB central contract, set to sign franchise contract with LA Knight Riders - Reports

Jason Roy to cancel ECB contract to play in Major League Cricket (MLC).

England opening batsman Jason Roy is expected to cancel his central contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to sign a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Knight Riders franchise in the upcoming edition of Major League Cricket (MLC). The MLC will begin on July 13 and run until July 30.

Roy, who won the World Cup with England in 2019, could lose his place in the England squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup in India if he signs the contract with the Knight Riders.

Roy to become first England player to opt out of central contract

He is set to make history as the first player from the England national cricket team to opt out of his central contract and focus on participating in T20 leagues worldwide. Currently, Roy is included in the list of centrally contracted players by the ECB, which grants the board control over his schedule until October of this year.

Roy's World Cup heroics

He played a pivotal role in England's victorious World Cup campaign in 2019, which took place on home soil. Throughout the tournament, he amassed an impressive total of 443 runs in eight matches, boasting an average of 63.28 and a strike rate of 115.36. However, due to a decline in his performance, he was not selected for the T20 World Cup 2022 held in Australia.

Roy's recent form

Following his return to the ODI side after the World Cup, Jason Roy participated in the three-match ODI series against Australia. However, his performance during the series in Australia did not meet expectations. Despite this setback, the right-handed batter managed to score centuries against South Africa and Bangladesh, which kept him in the running for future opportunities.

Jason Roy joined the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2023 as a replacement for Shakib Al Hasan. Throughout 8 matches, Roy displayed a good performance, accumulating a total of 285 runs at a strike rate of 151.60.

Roy could miss the 2023 ODI World Cup

According to the Daily Mail, discussions have been ongoing between Jason Roy and ECB officials regarding a potential contract signing with the LA Knight Riders. These talks have been taking place over the past few weeks, and an official announcement is expected soon. Should Roy choose to cancel his central contract, it may have implications for his international career and he could miss the 2023 ODI World Cup. The ECB would need to issue a No Objection Certificate for him to pursue this opportunity.