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A row has broken out between Cricket Australia and some of the country's leading players about whether they can play in next year's Indian Premier League Twenty20 cricket tournament.
At least 11 of Australia's top players, including captain Ricky Ponting and his deputy, Adam Gilchrist, have reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding to play in the lucrative tournament next April and May.
The players could earn up to US$1 million ($1.31 million) each for competing in the month-long series, on top of annual earnings, but CA boss James Sutherland is threatening to ban them from participating.
Sutherland has written to the players saying he would not grant consent unless his organisation was involved in the negotiations.
"A number of significant issues remain unresolved, particularly regarding Australian players' participation in the proposed events and the terms of participation," Sutherland wrote in a letter published by the Sun-Herald.
"Until CA is satisfied with the various terms and conditions associated with the IPL and CT20 [Champions Twenty20], CA will not consent to you or any other contracted player's participation in the aforementioned tournaments."
The newspaper described the row as having the potential to create the biggest split in the game since Kerry Packer launched World Series Cricket 30 years ago.
It quoted a player's agent, speaking on condition of anonymity, saying CA's threats were a "declaration of war".
"Cricket Australia doesn't want to put the players in a position where they might have to decide between playing for them or in India," the agent said. "If a player is money orientated, the IPL will win them over.
"They seem prepared to offer long-term deals and can pay more money. This could be a battle they [CA] won't win. It could divide the game."
CA's manager of public affairs, Peter Young, told reporters yesterday that the players were obliged to inform CA about their plans but talk about a major split was speculative.
"I think it is over-egging the pudding a little bit to talk about this being the biggest showdown since World Series Cricket," he said.
"It is more an issue of saying it is a bit rude to sign up without talking to your employer.
"It would be a breach of contract to play without our permission."
Last night Gilchrist insisted Australia's cricketers were not trying to be "rebels" and would toe the company line. He confirmed he was one of about a dozen top-level players to receive a letter from Sutherland warning them against playing in next year's lucrative IPL without CA's consent.
Gilchrist denied he or any other player was trying to bend the rules of their CA contracts by signing a memorandum of understanding, and insisted any such tournament would always come second to playing international cricket.
He did not view the letter as being the start of a "stand-off" between the players and CA, and dismissed fears Australian cricket was on the verge of the game's biggest split.
"No one will play [in the IPL] without consent," said Gilchrist. "We're not trying to be rebels here. It's a new opportunity for cricketers and it's a very exciting one that I know Cricket Australia are endorsing and encouraging.
"We're not looking to bend the rules or our contracts with Cricket Australia.
"They are our employer, as simple as that. We'll abide by their rules at all times and we're not trying to bend those rules.
"If the opportunity comes up to play IPL, which a lot of us have signed a [memorandum of understanding] to allow us to do, [we will play] but that will always be secondary to international cricket and playing for our country. I don't see [the letter] as a stand-off or a threat. It's simply [the CA] stating exactly what their position is, and making sure that everyone is fully aware of it."
- AGENCIES
