Former Australia captain Ian Chappell wants the ‘top Australian players’ to prioritise domestic cricket over IPL 2020 should the fixtures of two tournaments clash. Recent reports have suggested that BCCI is looking at September-October window to stage IPL if the T20 World Cup is postponed. It is the same time when the domestic season starts in Australia.
“Well this is coming from someone who’s never been a fan of the board, but the top players are looked after very well by Cricket Australia these days, so I think there’s an obligation there,” the 76-year-old told Wide World of Sports.
“It’s also a chance to stand up and say the cricket world isn’t going to be pushed around by India. I could mount a case more for a peripheral player who doesn’t earn a lot of money in Australia; if the bulk of his income is going to come from the IPL, well that’s something I would have some sympathy for if I was a CA board member. But the top players are well paid, and that argument doesn’t hold any water. Their obligation should be to Australia,” he added.
Australia’s season starts with Marsh Cup and is followed by Big Bash League. Many senior players skip the T20 league for international cricket. Sheffield Shield marks an end to Australia’s season, which runs till the end of March. So if they play domestic cricket, none of the Australian players will be able to participate in IPL 2020.
Several Australia players draw fat pay cheques in IPL and they will miss out on getting that money should they skip the league. Pat Cummins, who had joined Kolkata Kight Riders for a record price of Rs 15.5 crore, was the biggest pick in the auction. Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, David Warner and Nathan Coulter-Nile also have hefty IPL contracts.
