Cricket Australia (CA) has made an attempt to lure away the Aussie cricketers from the lucrative IPL by providing them multi-year central contracts according to the reports.
The CA wants to ensure that the key Australian players remain fresh during the International off-days in April and May when the cash-rich Indian Premier League is played.
The offer is made to the Australian captain Steve Smith, who currently is the captain of the franchise Rising Pune Supergiant, vice-captain David Warner, who is heading the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Alongside the pair, are the bowlers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, who get the one-year contract. The players were surprised with the multi-year contract option that they got.
CA says the move is aimed at minimising injuries and avoid the controversial resting of players such as Smith in Sri Lanka and Starc and Hazlewood in South Africa last year.
