Aussies a step closer to holding Twenty20 event

CRICKET Australia’s hopes of organising a domestic Twenty20 competition to rival the Indian Premier League have been given a major boost after the Board of Control for Cricket in India agreed to release their players for the mooted event.

Plans for an IPL-style tournament Down Under are only in their initial stages as CA look to tap into the money-making potential of Twenty20 cricket.

However, they have been handed an important first step in that process after Lalit Modi, who is the IPL chairman and vice-president of the BCCI, revealed India’s stars such as Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar will be available to play.

“They (CA) have asked us already if we would release our players for that and we said, yes, we would release our players for that,” Modi said.

“They have been gracious enough to release their players for us.”

The move is the latest in a seemingly improving relationship between the BCCI and CA following their controversial Test series in Australia earlier this year, when the Indians threatened to cut short their tour after a heated Sydney Test.

CA have subsequently allowed their players to play in the IPL in April while the two boards were responsible for writing the rules and organisation of the inaugural Champions League in December.

And while Modi does not expect the Australian model to replicate the sums of money involved in the IPL — where the salary cap for each franchise was $5million earlier this year — he is supportive of their idea.

“It may not be on the same scale as the IPL,” he added. “It may not be eight, 10 or 12 teams, but it may be six teams in Australia. We understand they are looking at a franchise model, developing other models, too.

“We are keenly watching that and are most supportive of that.”