Sydney, Feb 13 (IANS) Cricket Australia (CA) has given signs of bowing down to the Indian pressure with chief executive James Sutherland open to the idea of shifting matches on the International Cricket Council’s Future Tours Program (FTP), the media reported here Wednesday.
Sutherland’s stance on the FTP indicates that CA sees its players taking part in the Indian Premiere League (IPL) over the coming years, although a spokesman for the organisation would not rule out penalties for players who signed contracts without permission.
“James Sutherland is willing to participate in discussion and debate about creating a window in the FTP so players can play in the IPL, as long as it is a window that recognises the genuine interests of the FTP and all 10 ICC nations,” CA spokesman Peter Young was quoted as saying by The Sydney Morning Herald.
“We are still of the view that (the contract disagreement) is capable of resolution. It’s going to be tough, but we believe we can get through.”
The Federation of International Cricketers’ Association (FICA) has also pushed for an annual window to allow international stars to compete in the competition.
Australia’s players are keen to play in the multi billion dollar IPL but have so far been blocked from signing contracts because CA is worried they will promote rivals to their sponsors Foster’s and Travelex, which have negotiated deals with global protection from such events.
IPL chairman Lalit Modi is sticking firm to his deadline of Sunday for all contracts to be signed and returned, and said players not on the auction list would be unable to play in the tournament for three years.
Modi also said the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) would not be asking the ICC to reschedule the FTP, but with Australia already declaring their intention to do so, the IPL’s founders can sit back and watch it unfold. India will not play any series during the IPL.
While the Australian IPL-contracted players are scheduled for auction Feb 20 among the eight IPL franchises, subject to CA approval, assessing their value will be difficult if the FTP remains unchanged.
“The bid would be predicated on him being allowed to play subject to his current CA contract. They can bid for three years and, if he doesn’t go, then he doesn’t get paid,” explained Ricky Ponting’s manager, Sam Halvorsen. “At this stage, they’re free to play in 2010 – as per the existing [tour] schedule.”