IPL franchises meet Australian cricketers for year-round contracts
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Sydney: It is learnt that various IPL franchises have met Australian cricketers to sign year-round contracts so that they could represent them in various T20 leagues.
The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald reported that IPL (Indian Premier League) franchise representatives conducted informal talks with players through their management. They intended to know how much money would be required for them to commit to playing for them in various T20 leagues instead of playing international cricket.
The report read, "A source familiar with the issue said a sum of $5 million had been discussed to lure a big-name Australian player. This would be more than double what Test and one-day international captain Pat Cummins is paid as the highest-ranked player on CA's contracts list."
"Contracted Australian stars such as Cummins, David Warner and Glenn Maxwell would be eagerly sought by IPL franchises that own teams in other domestic Twenty20 leagues."
However, the report suggested that players had little interest in signing such contracts. But, a source opined that the players' hesitation might change, and they might sign such contracts once they near the end of their careers. It will only take 18 months to two years for Australian players to commit to year-long franchise cricket contracts, the report said.
"It would be a fundamental shift from the game's conventional pay model for international cricketers, which is rare in world sport in that a player's major source of income has traditionally come from their country instead of their club. Players would still require no objection certificates from their home board to take part in foreign T20 leagues," the report stated.
The development comes at a time when all six teams in the inaugural SA20 league were acquired by IPL franchises while some of them, like Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Mumbai Indians (MI), have acquired teams in UAE's ILT20 tournament. KKR also runs the Trinbago side in the Caribbean Premier League and is also in the running to acquire a side in the yet-to-be-launched Major League Cricket in the USA.
Recently, all six teams in the inaugural SA20 league were acquired by IPL franchises, while some of them, like Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Mumbai Indians (MI), have acquired teams in UAE's ILT20 tournament, too. KKR also runs the Trinbago side in the Caribbean Premier League and is also in the running to acquire a side in the yet-to-be-launched Major League Cricket in the USA.