Modi using star Pietersen & Flintoff mere pawns, says EPCA chairman

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Modi using star Pietersen & Flintoff mere pawns, says EPCA chairman

Pitched By Subhangi Sinha

Monday, 27 October 2008

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ENGLAND Professional Cricketers Association ( EPCA) chief executive Sean Morris has lashed out at Indian Premier League ( IPL) chairman Lalit Modi for using pressure tactics on players which has led to Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff being used as pawns and bargaining chips in a global power struggle between India and England.

“ Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff are keen to play in the IPL, so they'll not be very happy with this news. But they're pawns in a game of international politics between the two boards,” Morris said.

“ Everyone says you need to create an official window in the international cricket calendar to let the IPL happen. What I'm seeing is the manipulation of Test teams,” he was quoted as saying in the Sunday Observer . Morris' comments came after Modi said England players were welcome to play in the second edition of the IPL starting April next year, only if they commit for a substantial number of games — 15 or 16 matches.

“ The critical issue for us is whether they are appealing enough for our club owners to have English players only for a few matches,” said Modi, adding, “ They must be there for substantial numbers of games or for all the matches. But I don't think they will commit to playing all the matches, unless something radical happens.” Modi also questioned the value England players would add to their IPL teams if they turn out for a brief stint.

“ Are the franchise owners happy for Pietersen to play a handful of matches and then go away? I don't think anybody would be happy with that. He wouldn't add any value and would be more of a disruption. It takes time to gel with team- mates and to become part of team strategy and implement that strategy. They need to be there for 15 or 16 matches,” Modi said.

Morris termed Modi as clever and said the IPL chairman can go to any extent in creating a window for his Twenty20 brainchild.“ If Modi has not been given a window, he'll create one through different means. It's probably cheaper this way — having to sign up, say, ten players rather than do global deals with the other boards. Modi's a clever guy, he's got all the levers and he's decided to go down the strategy of a forcing a window by using the players,” Morris said.

The England and Wales Cricket Board are finding themselves in a precarious situation after Sri Lanka refused to tour early next summer as their best players have IPL commitments.

ECB are in talks with West Indies to replace Sri Lanka, but Morris is skeptical about the availability of a strong opposition.

“ Chris Gayle ( West Indies captain) is getting $ 900,000 to play in the IPL, so what do you think is going to happen there? Who, actually, will be available for England to play? Go through the teams. Scotland or Ireland? There's no one else left,” he said.

‘ DON''T LET TEST CRICKET BE RUINED BY T20 CASH COW’

Amid fears that Test cricket may soon be left trampled under the stampede for Twenty20 cash, England captain Kevin Pietersen urged world cricket leaders to do everything in their power to protect the longer version of the game. He insisted that the primacy and integrity of Test cricket must be preserved.

“ Test cricket is the big stuff. It''s about challenging yourself against the best players in the world in the hardest environment. I've had a taste of how wonderful it is and I love everything about playing for my country,” Pietersen told The Mail on Sunday.

“ But future generations, even my kids, might be facing questions like '' Do I want to be a Test cricketer or do I want to be a Twenty20 cricketer and franchise myself out for that?. And they might feel differently,” he stated.

Pietersen underlines the dangers by citing the example of left- arm swing bowler Neil Carter, contracted as a Warwickshire player but allowed by the club to join Middlesex on loan to play in their Twenty20 games in Antigua and in Champions League Twenty20 in India in December.

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Alicia

|2008-10-27 16:46:56

They just cant see anyone other than themselves holding centre stage in the ICC.
Now that BCCI is doing whatever they used to do to us, they are behaving as if
they are saints. While they have problems with our IPL, they conveniently are
planning for their own leagues and even have requested BCCI to release 20 indian
players for their tournament. Talking about double standards.

Yuvraaj - Modi using star Pietersen & Flintoff mere pawns

|2008-10-27 16:46:17

Mr Morris does not have a problem when they are twisting ICC left and right to
uphold the western hold on the game. In all the games against the Asian teams,
the umpires are against the Asian nations, and there are biased punishments and
impeachment of Asian players. A hint of doubt in the favour of batsmen/bowler of
their worlds is reserved for them. Even playing in India, we are forced to get
15 wickets to account for an actual 10. The IPL is a profit organization for the
world cricketers. It is a new order and the world cricket has to adjust to that.