Colly - No contract row

England all-rounder says possible IPL window is not a sticking point

Last updated: 16th November 2008

Colly - No contract row

Collingwood: unsure on IPL stint

You have to get the balance right between giving the players the opportunity to play in the IPL, but also the balance has to be right with regards to Test cricket.

Paul Collingwood
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Paul Collingwood confirmed England's players have not yet signed their central contracts, but insists there is nothing sinister about the situation.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) failed to reach a deal with their Indian counterparts about a reciprocal agreement for the release of players for the Indian Premier League (IPL) and English Premier League Twenty20 competitions.

Collingwood said the fact that the central contracts remain unsigned has nothing to do with a desire among England's players to take up lucrative IPL assignments.

"We didn't sign them until January last year," Collingwood told Sky Sports News.

"I'm not too sure why we haven't signed them this time around. That's obviously something the PCA (Professional Cricketers' Association) deal with, along with the ECB.

"It's certainly not because we're waiting around to see what's happening with the IPL."

Uncertain schedule

There is potential for an IPL window as England finish their tour of West Indies on April 3, seven days before the start of the second edition of the seven-week long event.

Sri Lanka are due in England for two Tests in May but that visit is in doubt due to their own players' IPL commitments.

"We still don't know who we are playing in Test cricket at the start of next summer - there are still a lot of grey areas," added Collingwood.

"But I'm sure, when the contracts are ready to be signed, we'll get straight in there and sign them.

"You have to get the balance right between giving the players the opportunity to play in the IPL, but also the balance has to be right with regards to Test cricket.

No offers

"From a players' point of view you want to playing for England and wearing the Three Lions, if Test cricket is there you want to be prepared for it.

"We have a massive year coming up, but if there is a window that would be great because there are huge benefits."

Collingwood, likely to be one of the England's most in-demand players from the IPL franchises, has not received any offers to play in the league.

"I haven't had any approaches - that's something that the agents tend to look after," said the Durham all-rounder.

Comments (2)

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Sat T says...

Why offer ANY England players IPL positions?? They were so quick to talk down about it before it started. Now that they flopped the Stanford T20 and came home with nothing they are looking to the IPL. ECB prevented players from joining the IPL last year so what is the difference this year? BCCI should just settle it for them and say "we dont want your players anyway".

Posted 14:40 17th November 2008

Sandip Kotecha says...

Why are Englang players so bothered about the IPL???? The only players it concerns are Pietersen and Flintoff who will get offers. The rest of them like Collingwood etc will be lucky to get anything. What people in theis country fail to realise is that the overseas players that command huge pay packets are those that are not only top players but also commercially attractive. Players like Collingwood et al dont fit into this category. England are hardly world beaters at one day cricket anyway........

Posted 21:40 16th November 2008
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