Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath have signed in to play in the breakaway Twenty20 Indian Cricket League, the Former Captain and Chief Executive of Indian Cricket League revealed to the “The Australian” newspaper. He also said that more Australian players are on the verge of signing up to ICL.
According to the Media Reports, Damien Martyn and Justin Langer had also been contacted for the ICL, but they have rejected the offers.
The Australian newspaper also reported that New Zealand Test captain Stephen Fleming has been approached to captain one of the six teams in multi-million dollar rebel Twenty20 League in India later this year. Fleming is the first current Test player to be speculatively linked to the competition, all the others have retired. The Media Reports says, Fleming may retire as New Zealand skipper to take part in the breakaway Indian Cricket League (ICL) started by the country’s largest listed media group “Zee”.
Rumours are in media that Warne would receive up to $2million to play for three years, Brian Lara would be paid $500,000 a season and Fleming is getting a deal of a three-year worth 500,000 dollars (440,000 US) annually.
Dean Jones, the member of the executive board of ICL, has revealed that they would need a total of 30 overseas players. Dean Jones is in charge of operations and drawing up rules for the competition and former England Captain Tony Greig ( also a member of ICL’s executive board) is involved in roping International players.
Update 1: 26-07-2007 10:00 GMT
According to indications quite a few from the English county side Lashings are likely to jump onto the ICL. Rumours are Rashid Latif, Chris Cairns, Marvan Attapattu, Nuwan Zoysa and Shane Bond have been approached.
Meanwhile, in a significant development, Cricket Australia has decided that it would not allow any contracted player, at national or state level, to take part in any tournament which does not enjoy ICC sanction.
