The Times reveals six English players, including some international stars, were approached by IPL franchise owners

3 years AGO
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Virat Verma Cricket expert
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The Newspaper reports that discussions have already taken place with some high-profile Australian players about full-time deals but this has now been extended to English players

Owners of top IPL franchises are attempting to persuade up to six of England’s top players to quit international cricket and take up handsome annual contracts ranging up to 5 million pounds to play T20 leagues around the year, the ‘Times London’ reported.

Owners of top IPL franchises are attempting to persuade up to six of England’s top players to quit international cricket and take up handsome annual contracts ranging up to 5 million pounds to play T20 leagues around the year, the ‘Times London’ reported. 

Nearly all of the 10 IPL franchises have expanded into other leagues, such as CPL (West Indies), SA T20 (South Africa), Global T20 League (UAE), and the upcoming Major League T20 in the US. The report, however, makes no mention of the franchise that approached them or the players in the discussion.

There will also be an ambitious Saudi T20 league in which some of the IPL franchises might be investing.

‘The Times’ report quotes:

“Initial discussions have taken place after at least six English players, including some international stars, were approached by IPL franchise owners and asked whether, in principle, they would accept a deal that would make an Indian team their main employer, rather than the ECB or an English county.” “This development follows discussions among players’ unions around the world about the potential implications of 12-month franchise contracts, which would be a significant step towards the football model of elite players being primarily contracted to their team and released for international duty, rather than the other way around.

“One source told The Times that contract offers could come as soon as the end of the year.”

There is no doubt that T20 cricket is here to stay and T10 is also fast catching the imagination of the public.

While ICC has always considered limiting the number of leagues that an active contracted player can participate in a year, one can’t rule out the possibility of many young players either retiring from international cricket or giving up on central contracts to become free agents. The only hurdle in such a situation might be a ‘NOC’ from the national cricket governing body.

“The probability of such a model being adopted has grown increasingly likely in recent years as some IPL franchise owners have bought stakes in several T20 tournaments in the UAE, South Africa, Caribbean — and now the United States with the new Major League Cricket venture which begins in July,”

the newspaper was quoted as saying.

The paper also claimed that a discussion on similar lines took place with star Australian T20 specialists also.

“Discussions have already taken place with some high-profile Australian players about full-time deals but this has now been extended to English players. Contracts could be worth upwards of GBP 2 million a year and even as high as GBP 5 million — more than five times the value of the highest England central contracts.” 

The paper also spoke about the possibility of having partial contracts both with the ECB or county and the IPL franchise, especially, the ones who play white-ball cricket.

“Reduced IPL deals — covering at least three of the rounds — would also be on offer. It is unlikely that any of England’s Test stars will walk away from their central contracts in favor of a franchise contract but the sheer amount of money on offer makes that a risk in the future.

“What is more likely is that players will arrange “bespoke” deals depending on their circumstances, which could result in them being part-contracted to their county or the ECB and part-contracted to a franchise.”