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Bindra for England players in IPL

G. Viswanath

Mumbai: Encouraged by Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne’s assertion that the International Cricket Council (ICC) should create a proper six-week window for the DLF-IPL Twenty20 and with England’s Test captain Michael Vaughan and one-day captain Paul Collingwood echoing the sentiments, one can expect the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the IPL Governing Council to go on an overdrive in the coming weeks to find a solution.

This would pave the way for the affected cricketers to be free from county cricket in England and bilateral commitments of their respective countries.

Sharing his thoughts as member of the IPL Governing Council, Inderjit Singh Bindra was quite guarded in his statements to The Hindu from the Bangalore airport.

Responding to the international cricketers’ demand for a six-week IPL window, Mr. Bindra said: “We are looking at the first season and see how it goes. Thereafter the BCCI may ask for a window. But we have to look at the suitable time so that the England players can take part in the IPL. We are very keen to have them in the competition.”

Not a threat

Vaughan said a few days ago that it would be naive to think England’s leading players would never play in the lucrative IPL and that he could envisage himself playing in the competition.

“We shouldn’t see it as a threat, we should see it as an opportunity for cricket. I can’t see it being anything but a success. When you’re talking about such a huge amount of money in such a short space of time, players are going to be interested and they’re going to play in it. Somewhere down the line, I’m sure a schedule will be put in place that makes players available.”

Soon Collingwood cautioned the ECB not to put players into a situation where they had to make a choice between their country and the IPL. “I hear snippets here and there, but I’ve pretty much assumed we can’t go. I’ve got to be honest, I think players are going to be tempted.

“When you have the chance to earn that kind of money… whether the players are at the back-end of their careers or on the outskirts of the team, they might make a decision. Hopefully it won’t come down to that.”

Timing is the key

Mr. Bindra said the BCCI and IPL had initiated consultations with the ECB Chairman Giles Clarke in Bangalore from Thursday.

“I am going to Mohali, but there are other officials and the talks will continue. There has to be a solution and all this can happen only after dialogue with the ECB.

“The timing is the key, how far can we advance the IPL to make sure that the England players are also available. Consultations are very important. We are not a rebel league, we are part of the system.

“No England player can play in the IPL without the NOC from the ECB. Haroon Lorgat (ICC’s new CEO from July) has already said that there is scope to create a window for the IPL”.

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