Conflict Between England And IPL Ends
Following reports that the England and Wales Cricket Board had reached an agreement with the Indian Premier League, it has been confirmed that England players will be able to participate in the Twenty20 tournament for a three-week period.
After meetings in India and another in Singapore this month, the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) and ECB have announced that England players will be available for the IPL auction on 6th February and then play the tournament for a minimum of three weeks in 2009 and 2010.
The likes of Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen are expected to fetch in the region of $1m each in the IPL auction with many other England squad members also likely to be picked up. Stuart Broad is the only centrally contracted England player to have ruled himself out of selection for the IPL.
The Boards have also agreed to work together on formulating the IPL schedule for 2010 as well as 2009 to fit into the International Fixture schedule.
Additionally, the BCCI and ECB will schedule Test Match and One Day Series over a four-year cycle starting in 2011.
This ends a drawn-out dispute between the Indian and England cricket boards regarding the new IPL and whether England players were going to be released from their domestic commitments for enough time to play in the lucrative Twenty20 tournament.
