By IANS
Melbourne : Andrew Symonds exposed the growing rift between Cricket Australia (CA) and its players over the billion-dollar Indian Premiere League (IPL), after the all-rounder criticised the board’s “interference” in preventing players from signing in the league.
With deadline for signing with the new Twenty20 competition little more than a week away, Symonds said that the Australian players are at a loss at the CA’s stance, The Australian reported.
“We can’t quite work out what’s going on with the chiefs at Cricket Australia, who seem to be trying to interfere by putting up a heap of red tape,” Symonds wrote in his syndicated weekly column.
“To be brutally honest, as players, we just can’t understand the stance they’ve taken. We’re all keen to have a hit if the tour of Pakistan gets called off, but Cricket Australia has played what looks like a bit of a trick shot.
It’s my understanding Cricket Australia are trying to say that Aussie players can’t play for teams who are sponsored by competitors to Cricket Australia sponsors,” he said.
“The way I see it, Queensland are sponsored by XXXX and South Australia are sponsored by WestEnd — but CA is sponsored by Foster’s. So CA is trying to say that’s a conflict of interest and because of that we can’t play?”
According to The Australian, CA has no problem with the badge of an opposition sponsor appearing on a player’s shirt during the new eight-team competition.However, it would take strong exception if captain Ricky Ponting or another of the players appeared in an international advertising campaign in opposition to CA’s major sponsors.
Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) chief executive Paul Marsh claimed Symonds stated what other players are feeling.
“Andrew’s comments are reflective of a number of players regarding the IPL,” Marsh said.
“It’s an exciting opportunity for players and a great initiative but time is ticking away and they want a resolution. There are complex issues we are working through with Cricket Australia,” he added.
Under CA contract, Symonds potentially faces disciplinary action for his outspoken and inaccurate comments. However, CA chief executive James Sutherland is attempting to defuse the issue by arranging a discussion with Symonds.
“Andrew’s made some very passionate public comment,” CA public affairs manager Peter Young said Sunday.
“What we are hoping is that James will be able to walk him through the detail so he actually understands what is going on and in particular, he understands that we are very keen to see IPL succeed in a manner that allows players such as Andrew Symonds to participate,” he said
Leading Australian players can earn upwards of $1million or more a year in CA contract and match payments, prize money, sponsorship, endorsements and media work. But they can make hundreds of thousands more playing in the six-week IPL extravaganza, which is due to start April 18.
The reality is that Australia’s players are unlikely to be available for the next two years because of international tours.
Even if the Pakistan tour from mid-March to the end of April is cancelled, as expected, because of security issues, it is likely to be played at a neutral venue. Australia then goes straight to the West Indies in early May for another six-week tour.
While refusing to discuss any detail of CA’s discussions with the Board of Control for Cricket in India over the confusing and still shambolic IPL, Young claimed CA strongly supported the concept.
“It is not just sponsorship issues. There are a range of issues and the sponsorship issue is far more complicated than what has so far been presented publicly,” Young said. “We are keen to see Australian players participate in the IPL but on the basis that it doesn’t compromise future tours or ICC events,” he said.