Home Sports Pietersen, Flintoff’s dream to play in Indian league in coach’s hands

Pietersen, Flintoff’s dream to play in Indian league in coach’s hands

By IANS,

London : England coach Peter Moores has been given the task of determining to what extent his star cricketers Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff should be allowed to play in the next edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is facing a tough time to keep its flock together as its star players are adamant on playing in the lucrative IPL.

Hugh Morris, the managing director of the England team, has placed the onus of the decision firmly on the coach, The Guardian reported.

Though the involvement of England players is limited next year because of a Test series against Sri Lanka, outside such restrictions it will be Moores, not the board, whose opinions will count the most.

“Ultimately any decision can be overruled by the board – that is just the corporate organisation. But Peter is very much the man we turn to on a day-to-day basis to manage the players’ programme,” Moores said.

“Some players need to play a lot, some need to rest. It is trying to get the right balance between preparation, rest and playing. Peter and I have discussed this, as you can imagine. Peter makes a recommendation to me and that goes to the board but ultimately Peter is the one on a day-to-day basis who will come to us to recommend the programme that each individual player should be following.”