
Australian cricketers take a step forward before signing MoU
Notwithstanding Cricket Australia's (CA's) reservations and their existing national commitments, top Australian players are all set to sign on the dotted line with the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Neil Maxwell and Steve Atkinson, representing cricketers from Down Under, were here on Thursday to facilitate the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between the players and the IPL.
"It is the Long Form Agreement, a two-page document. We had a discussion with Lalit Modi (IPL Commissioner and a Vice-President of BCCI)," Maxwell told Hindustan Times. "We are here to work through the players' contracts … The MoU covers the obligations of the players and the IPL."
CA had raised the issue of protection of its sponsors when the Australian players take part in the IPL. But Maxwell believed the players were well within their right to sign up.
"The CA has to work that through with the BCCI. As Modi had said on a number of occasions, the sponsors don't get protection when the Australian players play in the English County," he said.
Also, the Australian team is scheduled to tour Pakistan around the same time the inaugural IPL - 59 matches over 44 days - is to be held, although the political situation has raised doubts about the fixture going ahead. Maxwell said that CA was yet to convey to the players a final decision about the tour, one way or the other.
Asked how the IPL would fit into the international calendar when the Test-playing nations were committed to the Future Tours Programme at least till 2011, Maxwell said: "The IPL has a role in the calendar each year. It is only going to grow in significance in time."
Moody for IPL
The list of players represented by Maxwell included Tom Moody, the former all-rounder who coached Sri Lanka to the World Cup final in the West Indies last year. "After what happened last month, a lot of players want to rebuild and strengthen their ties with India," Maxwell said. The Mumbai matches, it was decided, would be held at the Brabourne Stadium.
Twenty per cent of tickets for state associations
BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah said that it had been decided to reserve "20 per cent of the tickets to the state associations." Allotting tickets for matches to the club members and the local state association had been foreseen a thorny issue. Shah did not give a clear reply when asked if that percentage also included the members of the Cricket Club of India (CCI), set to host the Mumbai matches, though.
The eight franchises are scheduled to meet the IPL bosses over the next two days when many prickly issues are to be sorted out.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that the player auction is tentatively set for February 20.
In the league
Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Stephen Fleming, Brett Lee, Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke, Matthew Hayden, Nathan Bracken, Cameron White, Mike Hussey, Jason Gillespie, Justin Langer and Tom Moody.

PSL 2021: PCB to offer players and officials COVID-19 vaccine shots

Spin legend Bedi recovering well after surgery to remove blood clot in brain

Indian women train after a year ahead of SA series

Winning, and not pitch or WTC final matters for Virat Kohli

Vaughan takes another dig at Ahmedabad pitch in a fresh Instagram video

IND vs ENG 4th Test Live Streaming: When & where to watch Live on TV & Online

Tom Banton in isolation after positive Covid-19 test

Lessons from changing conditions: Play the line, play in the V
_1614775461128_1614775469256.jpg)
Pietersen backs Ashwin to become one of India’s ‘all-time great bowlers’

Jaffer's hilarious tweet on Eng cricketer's reaction seeing Motera pitch is epic

Seat broken by Maxwell's six in Wellington to be auctioned for charity

'My words never intended to insult': Steyn apologizes for remark on IPL

Kapil Dev receives first dose of Covid-19 vaccine

Axar Patel eyes record fifer in 4th Test, also has a chance to get past Hirwani
- India vs England: He upped the ante on home turf as the third Test was played in Ahmedabad, which was also a pink ball Test. Axar was in terrific form as he ended with figures of 6/38 and 5/32 to become the first bowler to pick 11 wickets in a pink ball Test.
