Until now Pietersen was the only English player attempting to hustle the ECB into letting the English players participate in IPL. Today Andrew Flintoff who is more of a national icon than Pietersen has joined him.
However, he has come out with a much more clever way to hustle the ECB. Pointing out how IPL has fine-tuned the Indian cricketers cricketing skills, he clarified the reason for his teammates' keenness to play in the IPL was not just the big bucks they could earn through it.
"A few of our players are keen to go to the IPL. The thing that most people write about when they mention the IPL is the financial rewards, but it should also be looked at as something that helps with a player's development,"
By aligning England’s barren tour to lack of IPL experience, Flintoff has changed the ball –game. By stating a valid reason, Flintoff has provided the ECB a good enough excuse to overcome its ‘morals’.
With Flintoff singing paeans on IPL, the ECB has no other recourse but let its players participate in the IPL.
Don’t you agree it is game, set and match to Lalit Modi?
13 comments:
Harmison has written about it as well. I think perhaps only about 3-4 English players will fetch decent money in the IPL - so ECB may have to factor that in.
RS,
With McGrath and Pollock refusing to renew their contract, there is certainly a need for Flintoff.
He should fetch a good price and I believe even Collingwood would have a strong bid.
(Pietersen has already signed up with Mumbai Indians).
I thought it was all about the Indian players' availability in the ECL. Surely they cannot talk moral after agreeing to play a winner takes us all game LOL.
Soon their press will be talking about how it helps to understand their conditions blah blah.
Flintoff and KP will be hot cakes... can't tell about the wood though
Scorpi,
The ability to talk rubbish with a straight face is an English trait.
On Collingwood - I think MI will go after him as they need some to replace Pollack.
Harmison's been on the same theme.
Guess Stanford level of cricket now holds no charm for the Englishmen - the real deal is here they realize despite the ostrich head in the sand attitude of their countrymen towards a former colony's cricket board.
Soulberry,
They have realised that IPL has larger guaranteed spin-offs.
Pity Mumbai Indians.
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R,
Why do you pity MI?
Rob,
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ottayan: I don't think MI can sign him - can they? I thought I read another auction is supposed to be there in Feb for players not signed after the trading in Dec.
RS,
You are correct. They cannot sign and can only bid for him. However, I am not sure whether he has signed up with a team earlier like Pietersen.
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