Before the IPL 2023 mini-auction, fans and experts had expected Cameron Green to fetch big bucks. As it turned out, the Australian all-rounder was roped in by Mumbai Indians (MI) for a hefty sum of INR 17.50 crore, making him the second costliest purchase in the history of auctions.
Green’s entry into the auction ring triggered a fierce bidding war between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals in a three-way face-off. In the end, the five-time IPL champions secured his services.
However, MI are sweating over Green’s availability in the IPL 2023 as a proper all-rounder during the early stages of the tournament.
According to a TOI report, the Australian cricketer will be available to play only as a batter in the cash-rich league till April 13, due to thanks to Cricket Australia's workload management policy guidelines for pacers that franchises must follow.
"Cricket Australia has informed this morning that Cameron Green (player No. 8) will be fully available. However, if he features in all the four Test matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Green will not be able to bowl for four weeks from the conclusion of the fourth Test scheduled from 9th March to 13th March, 2023," BCCI's CEO and IPL COO Hemang Amin wrote in a communication to 10 IPL franchises, as assessed by TOI.
Notably, Cameron Green is set to undergo surgery to repair his right index finger, which got fractured during the just-concluded Boxing-Day Test against South Africa at MCG. He should recover in time to be considered for selection for the upcoming Test tour of India, slated to get underway on February 9.
Meanwhile, the IPL teams are in distress after BCCI’s recent statement that the National Cricket Academy (NCA) will monitor the workload of players shortlisted for the 2023 ODI World Cup in India in October-November.
"Like the other boards (specifically England's cricket board and Cricket Australia), the BCCI should have spelt this out before the IPL auction, so that franchises could have planned accordingly," a franchise official quoted as saying by TOI.
(With TOI inputs)
