England one-day cricket captain Paul Collingwood believes that cricketers of the team, especially stars like Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen, should be allowed to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
London, Apr.18 : England one-day cricket captain Paul Collingwood believes that cricketers of the team, especially stars like Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen, should be allowed to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Calling on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to relax their stance and allow the country's aces to join the megabucks Twenty20 revolution next year, Collingwood said: "Players will be tempted. If you had the chance to earn four times your normal money in the next six weeks, would you take it? It's human nature."
"Hopefully, there won't be a situation where players have to make a choice between the IPL and playing for England," The Sun quoted him as saying further.
On Thursday it was revealed that a 10-million-pound Twenty20 match between England and West Indies is set for November in Antigua.
The Bangalore Royal Challengers play the Kolkata Knight Riders in the first match of the IPL in Bangalore today.
Hampshire all-rounder Dimi Mascarenhas is the sole England-qualified player who is playing the IPL, having been signed up for 50,000 pounds.
Collingwood admitted: "I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought about the IPL." Kevin Pietersen - a big IPL fan - was at Lord's yesterday for the launch of England's new five-year kit deal with Adidas.
KP said: "The sums I've been offered are amazing. It's like winning the lottery. You don't turn the money down."
ANI