SYDNEY – Players picked in Australia s World Cup squad won t be allowed totake part in the final few weeks of the Indian Premier League, cricketbosses said Thursday in a bid to ensure country comes first.
The lucrative IPL Twenty20 tournament usually runs from late March till midMay with the World Cup in England and Wales starting on May 30.
After a miserable run of form this year, Cricket Australia are determinedthe players key focus is on defending their one-day title ahead of anAshes series against England.
The guidelines state that anyone selected in the 15-player World Cup squad,which will be announced in late April, must attend a pre-tournament camp inearly May.
Those in Australia s ODI squad for their series against Pakistan — whosedates are reportedly pencilled in for March 15-29 — will also not bereleased until it is over.
And players, who will need approval from CA to feature in the IPL, mustalso complete their Sheffield Shield duties before leaving for the Indiantournament.
Cricket Australia s interim Team Performance chief Belinda Clark said therules were “in the interest of making Australians proud of our team”.
“We are working hard to ensure their health and match readiness ahead ofwhat will undoubtedly be a huge year in cricket, while respecting theplayers interests in playing in the various formats,” she said.
“It is a difficult period with the IPL being brought forward to accommodatethe Cricket World Cup, and overlapping our domestic season.
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“We are committed to respecting the position of the Sheffield Shield, whileensuring Australia s World Cup squad is well prepared for this criticalworld event.”
The 2019 IPL auction is due to take place next month with Australianplayers often sought after on big-money contracts.
But with Australian cricket going through a tumultuous year after theball-tampering scandal and a clean out of top executives at CricketAustralia, several former greats, led by Shane Warne, have called for areturn to basics.
That involves more game time for top players in the Sheffield Shield andless focus on Twenty20.
Clark, a former captain of the Australian women s team, said the IPLdecision was “a reasonable balance that will enable the players to considertheir options and choose what is right for them and their respective teams”.
“It is imperative that we ensure Australia is in the best possible positionas we head into the Cricket World Cup and the 2019 Ashes series,” sheadded. – APP/AFP
