IPL England cricket crisis solved

Chris DHAMBARAGE

In a dramatic turn of events the organizes of the high profile DLF Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament yesterday decided to compensate Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) with a thumping sum of US Dollars 40 million for a period of ten years.

This was following the fruitful discussions between the Chairman and Commissioner of the IPL Lalit Modi and Graeme Labrooy Secretary of the Sri Lanka Cricketers Association in India yesterday.

Until then SLC was in loggerheads with the cricketers who have signed lucrative three years deals with the IPL which was clashing with Sri Lanka’s proposed tour to England in April/May next year. Skipper Mahela Jayawardane, Muttiah Muralitharan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Farveez Mahroof, Thilakaratne Dilshan and Dilhara Fernando are some of the key players who have signed three-year contracts with the IPL.

In fact 38-year-old left-handed Sanath Jayasuriya is the third highest paid player of the IPL. In addition Sri Lanka`s 23-year old new spin sensation, Ajantha Mendis, has also signed up with the Kolkata Knight Riders for three years.

But the new deal is certain to bring an end to months long crisis which will be of favourable for both parties. Sri Lanka were due to play two Tests and three one-dayers in England next May but the timetable clashes with the 2009 IPL tournament.

The players argue that the IPL contracts had been signed long before the idea of a tour to England was mooted and want to go ahead with their initial commitments.

With the new arrangements now there is an option for three one day internationals against England instead of the two test matches starting from May 27. These three one day internationals could be played even without a fee as a goodwill gesture to support the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) according to sources from the SLC. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) arranged the tour of two Tests and three one-dayers after a visit by Zimbabwe was cancelled on the advice of the British government.

In another major development the 2009 Champions League could feature a side from Sri Lanka and the SLC will be paid a promotional fee of US Dollars tree million and the team participating will be paid a sum of US Dollars one million as participation fee.

Lalit Modi, the man behind the highly successful DLF Indian Premier League and its Chairman and Commissioner was recently appointed as the Chairman of the board of the Champions League Twenty20 tournament in addition to his duties as the vice president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the President of the Rajasthan Cricket Association.

Meanwhile India have decided to reschedule the postponed Tri Series against South Africa and Sri Lanka in 2009 subject to the availability of the South African team.

India have also agreed to play in a Tri series to be played in Sri Lanka during the year 2010.