Players picked in Australia’s World Cup squad won’t be allowed to take part in the final few weeks of the Indian Premier League, cricket bosses said Thursday in a bid to ensure country comes first.
The lucrative IPL Twenty20 tournament usually runs from late March till mid May with the World Cup in England and Wales starting on May 30.
After a miserable run of form this year, Cricket Australia are determined the players’ key focus is on defending their one-day title ahead of an Ashes series against England.
The guidelines state that anyone selected in the 15-player World Cup squad, which will be announced in late April, must attend a pre-tournament camp in early May.
Those in Australia’s ODI squad for their series against Pakistan — whose dates are reportedly pencilled in for March 15-29 — will also not be released until it is over.
And players, who will need approval from CA to feature in the IPL, must also complete their Sheffield Shield duties before leaving for the Indian tournament.
Cricket Australia’s interim Team Performance chief Belinda Clark said the rules were “in the interest of making Australians proud of our team”.
“We are working hard to ensure their health and match readiness ahead of what will undoubtedly be a huge year in cricket, while respecting the players’ interests in playing in the various formats,” she said.
“It is a difficult period with the IPL being brought forward to accommodate the Cricket World Cup, and overlapping our domestic season.
“We are committed to respecting the position of the Sheffield Shield, while ensuring Australia’s World Cup squad is well prepared for this critical world event.”
The 2019 IPL auction is due to take place next month with Australian players often sought after on big-money contracts.
But with Australian cricket going through a tumultuous year after the ball- tampering scandal and a clean out of top executives at Cricket Australia, several former greats, led by Shane Warne, have called for a return to basics.
That involves more game time for top players in the Sheffield Shield and less focus on Twenty20.
Clark, a former captain of the Australian women’s team, said the IPL decision was “a reasonable balance that will enable the players to consider their options and choose what is right for them and their respective teams”.
“It is imperative that we ensure Australia is in the best possible position as we head into the Cricket World Cup and the 2019 Ashes series,” she added.
