Everyone knows that England’s players are just dying to sign on the dotted lines with one of the eight franchisees that own Indian Premier League teams.
Despite series loss, Indian Premier League franchisees feel top English players can be useful in more ways than one
MUMBAI: Everyone knows that England’s players are just dying to sign on the dotted lines with one of the eight franchisees that own Indian Premier League teams. At an open media session in Mumbai, a couple of days after the team arrived, one of the players admitted he didn’t have an offer from the IPL and added in a lighter vein that someone help him get in touch with one of the millionaire owners or give him the phone number of an influential agent.
Since then things have taken a serious turn with the ECB and the BCCI not being able to find a middle ground with regard to the number of days Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff can spare for the IPL keeping in mind that England will be playing a Test series against Sri Lanka in early May. So when Andrew Flintoff went to the extent of blaming England’s dismal performance in the on-going series to lack of Indian Premier League experience it wouldn’t have impressed the ECB bosses.
TA Sekhar, head of cricket operations, Delhi Daredevils, opines that Flintoff’s statement (I think through playing the shorter form of the game India have developed new skills with both bat and ball, and we have been found wanting a little bit) is just a tactic to put pressure on the ECB to allow them to play in the IPL.
“Which ever way you look at, it this could be the last chance for the English players to make quick money in the IPL. Once the ECB starts its own T20 league along the lines of the IPL, it will be difficult for the likes of Flintoff and Pietersen to spare time for the IPL. Moreover will someone like Flintoff, who is injury-prone, be able to handle the physical strain of playing so much cricket?,” Sekhar said. “If an owner believes that he can add brand value to the team then he will go ahead and sign them on. Team managements don’t go only by the current form of the players. Sometimes it helps when players are of value on, as well as, off the field,” Sekhar told DNA. “Incidentally, Owais Shah is a player the franchisees could be interested in,” Sekhar asked.
Harsha Bhogle, advisor of the Mumbai Indians told DNA, “How much demand there will be for Pietersen and Flintoff will also depend on the needs of the various franchisees and what kind of slots they are trying to fill. That England has had a poor ODI series may not affect their star status.”
However, Bhogle believes that the uncertainty over the availability of England’s players will make IPL teams think twice before even considering them. Manoj Badale, chairman of Rajasthan Royals, said: “I don’t think the way England is playing at the moment will reduce the interest teams have shown in Flintoff and Pietersen. Yes, without a question they remain stars.”
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