Cricket Australia upset over IPL signings

[Guest Hiten.]

Cricket Australia has told 11 Australian players including Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist it is disappointed with them for signing with the Indian Premier League (IPL) and it will not consent to them playing in the competition unless certain conditions are met. The IPL Twenty20 tournament is officially sanctioned by the ICC and in October it was announced that Ponting, Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds, Brett Lee, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey and Matthew Hayden were among an extensive list of Australian players to have signed up. But according to a report in the Sun-Herald James Sutherland, Cricket Australia's chief executive, has written to the players to express his frustration at their actions. The paper reported that it had obtained a copy of the letter, in which Sutherland rebuked the players for acting in direct conflict with their national contracts and for not consulting Cricket Australia before signing memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the IPL. "A number of significant issues remain unresolved, particularly regarding Australian players' participation in the proposed events and the terms of participation," Sutherland wrote. "Until CA is satisfied with the various terms and conditions associated with the IPL and CT20 [Champions Twenty20], CA will not consent to you or any other contracted player's participation in the aforementioned tournaments. "You will no doubt be aware that this MOU sees you providing undertakings that will put you in conflict with your obligations to CA and/or your state association. In this context, I am disappointed that you have chosen not to discuss or advise CA of your decision." Sutherland conceded he was not even sure which players had definitely signed - the letter was sent to players who "may have" signed an MOU. Nathan Bracken, Mitchell Johnson, Brad Haddin, Jason Gillespie and the New South Wales-contracted Simon Katich were reported to have joined the league in October along with the other players. Ponting told the ABC last month that money was one of the key reasons the players had signed. "It's a very lucrative thing at the moment and a very attractive thing for four to six weeks out of your year," Ponting said. The IPL season might clash with Australia's scheduled Test tour of Pakistan early next year, although the Pakistan trip has not yet been confirmed due to the political situation in the country. The potential for players to be signed with two parties - Cricket Australia and the IPL - organising matches at the same time is one of Cricket Australia's major concerns. © Cricinfo LOL... BCCI thought IPL will be a cakewalk, CA has some surprises in store for our beloved BCCI :two_thumbs_up:

[fineleg]

Good. Let BCCI break their heads over this. The money hungry BCCI.

[zubinpepsi]

can anyone explain how this IPL is gonna run.... cricketers r already complaining of too many matches.. n how r they gonna play this tournament amidst of their busy schedule.... i think IPL is gonna be an eye wash..

[Guest Hiten.]

Players will obey board - Gilchrist Adam Gilchrist and Cricket Australia's chief executive James Sutherland have dismissed reports that there is a rift between the players and the board over the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Sun-Herald printed a letter in which Sutherland expressed his disappointment that 11 Australian-contracted players had not consulted Cricket Australia before signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would let them play in the IPL. However, Gilchrist said there was no substance to suggestions that the players could choose to play in the IPL ahead of Tests or ODIs for their country. "No one will play [in the IPL] without consent," Gilchrist told AAP. "We're not trying to be rebels here. It's a new opportunity for cricketers and it's a very exciting one that I know Cricket Australia are endorsing and encouraging. "We're not looking for a moment to bend the rules or our contracts with Cricket Australia. They are our employer, as simple as that. We'll abide by their rules at all times and we're not trying to bend those rules what so all. If the opportunity comes up to play IPL, which a lot of us have signed a MOU to allow us to do, (we will play) but that will always be secondary to international cricket and playing for our country." Sutherland said although Cricket Australia supported the officially-sanctioned IPL, he would have preferred the players to consult Cricket Australia before signing the MOU. "There was an element of disappointment there that players and/or their managers didn't think to advise us of that," Sutherland said. However, he echoed Gilchrist's sentiment that no player was likely to turn down the chance to play for his country. "I haven't seen any intent on the part of the Australian players that is going to compromise international cricket and their commitments to Cricket Australia," he said. "No-one has signed a binding contract, and they can't until they have clearance from Cricket Australia." Because of Australia's hectic Test schedule next year and beyond, the chances for Australian players to take part in the IPL could be limited. Next year the tournament is likely to clash with Australia's Test tour to Pakistan and Sutherland said that would mean only a few fringe players might be free to join IPL teams. "The workload and the timing of when the Indian Premier League is, in spite of perhaps players looking to sign contracts, it might be over the course of the next three years that Australian players are only able to play one of the next three years. In terms of that conflict, or players choosing to play in the Indian Premier League instead of their international commitments, it's just not going to happen." Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, Brett Lee, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey are among the stars believed to have signed MOUs. Sutherland said Cricket Australia had no problem with the players signing binding agreements provided the terms were satisfactory. © Cricinfo