With the expansion of lucrative T20 leagues around the world, cricketers are finding it hard to strike the balance between franchise cricket and national duty.
In July last year, England’s ace all-rounder Ben Stokes called time on his ODI career, citing that it was "unsustainable" for him to play all three formats amid a busy schedule.
Now, a report published in the 'Times London' claims that owners of top IPL franchises are trying to convince as many as six leading England players to quit international cricket and sign hefty annual contracts ranging up to 5 million pounds in order to play T20 leagues round the year.
Nearly all the 10 IPL franchises own teams in various leagues, including CPL (West Indies), SA T20 (South Africa), Global T20 League (UAE) and the upcoming Major League T20 in the US.
The report, however, doesn't mention the players who have been approached by the franchises.
'The Times' report quotes: "Initial discussions have taken place after at least six English players, including some international stars, were approached by IPL franchise owners and asked whether, in principle, they would accept a deal that would make an Indian team their main employer, rather than the ECB or an English county."
"This development follows discussions among players' unions around the world about the potential implications of 12-month franchise contracts, which would be a significant step towards the football model of elite players being primarily contracted to their team and released for international duty, rather than the other way around.
"One source told The Times that contract offers could come as soon as the end of the year."
The only obstacle in such a scenario could be receiving the 'No Objection Certificate' from the respective country's cricket board.
"The probability of such a model being adopted has grown increasingly likely in recent years as some IPL franchise owners have bought stakes in several T20 tournaments in the UAE, South Africa, Caribbean — and now the United States with the new Major League Cricket venture which begins in July," the newspaper was quoted as saying.
The report also claimed that a discussion on similar lines took place with Australia’s star T20 players as well.
"Discussions have already taken place with a number of high-profile Australian players about full-time deals but this has now been extended to English players. Contracts could be worth upwards of GBP 2 million a year and even as high as GBP 5 million — more than five times the value of the highest England central contracts."
The paper also spoke about the possibility of players having partial contracts both with ECB or county and the IPL franchise.
"Reduced IPL deals — covering at least three of the rounds — would also be on offer. It is unlikely that any of England's Test stars will walk away from their central contracts in favour of a franchise contract but the sheer amount of money on offer makes that a risk in the future.
"What is more likely is that players will arrange "bespoke" deals depending on their own circumstances, which could result in them being part-contracted to their county or the ECB and part-contracted to a franchise."
(With PTI Inputs)
