Indian Premier League teams have sounded out Australian players about signing 12-month contracts in what could be a precursor to a seismic shift in the international game.
Franchise representatives have held informal talks with the players through their management over how much money would be required for them to turn their backs on a Cricket Australia contract and commit year round to their organisation.
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 contract 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.
Australian players have been sounded out by IPL franchises over a year-long contract.Credit:Getty
Agents contacted by The Age have indicated there is little interest from their players though that may change as their clients reach the end of their international careers. One industry source said it could be only 18 months to two years before an Australian player commits to such an arrangement.
In a scenario that has been likened to the controversial LIV Golf tour, players would be paid more to play less than they currently do, lining up for different teams owned by an IPL franchise in domestic T20 leagues around the world. This would place more pressure on the future of international cricket.
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 players’ 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 IPL’s reach extends beyond playing ranks. The ownership of the Kolkata Knight Riders have bought teams in the Caribbean (Trinbago) and the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi) and have also acquired a team to be based in Los Angeles in the yet to be launched Major League Cricket in the US. The teams will carry the Knight Riders nickname.
The Mumbai Indians have a similar arrangement in T20 leagues in South Africa and the UAE, while the Rajasthan Royals have also bought a team in South Africa. In fact, each of the six new teams in the SA20 are owned by IPL franchises.
The different regulations around recruiting players would be a stumbling block for an IPL franchise to acquire players for their respective teams.
The year-round contract structure has already been seen in coaching ranks, with former Sri Lanka star Mahela Jayawardena recently signed by Mumbai Indians as their global head of performance to oversee coaching and scouting across their other franchises.
Kolkata Knight Riders chief Venky Mysore earlier this year flagged his franchise’s ambitions to see players contracted for 12 months to play in their teams.
“In an ideal world, sure – because that gives us the opportunity to make our vision and our strategy even stronger,” Mysore told the London Telegraph.
“If we were able to have X number of contracted players, and were able to use them all in different leagues, I think that would be nirvana. Hopefully, someday it will happen. I wouldn’t be surprised if it did.”
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
