Gilchrist to earn over a million dollars from IPL stint in 2008

Retiring Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist may have been given a rousing send off by the Indian and Australian teams at the start of the fifth and final days play of the Adelaide Test, but he is set to earn over a million dollars for just 44 days work during the forthcoming Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament.

Melbourne, Jan.28 : Retiring Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist may have been given a rousing send off by the Indian and Australian teams at the start of the fifth and final day's play of the Adelaide Test, but he is set to earn over a million dollars for just 44 days work during the forthcoming Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament.

Gilchrist's retirement after the triangular one-day series finishes in March will allow him to play in the inaugural season of India's boom Twenty20 competition where money is no barrier.

While Australia's top players are likely to earn about 120,000-dollars each in tour fees if the trip to Pakistan goes ahead in March-April, Gilchrist could earn more in one IPL season - beginning on April 18 - than he would in an entire year from his Cricket Australia contract and match fees.

Gilchrist has already signed an expression of interest to play this season and will command a base fee of at least 300,000 dollars. This figure will rise dramatically once the eight franchises - which last week sold for a combined 820- million dollars - bid for his services.

At 36, Gilchrist could easily play in India for the next three seasons and significantly boost his retirement fund.

Australia's top players are unlikely to play in the IPL in the next two years because of Cricket Australia commitments, the Australian Telegraph said.

Gilchrist's manager Steve Atkinson yesterday said the pair would discuss future plans this week.

The greatest batsman-wicketkeeper of all time is expected to be given a rousing farewell across Australia next month when the tri-series, involving India and Sri Lanka, is held.

The farewell celebration began yesterday when he was given a standing ovation by the Adelaide crowd and Indian team when he came out to bat.

While his 14-run knock lasted only 18 minutes, it was played in a typical free-flowing manner which culminated in a wide slash outside off-stump at paceman Irfan Pathan and a catch to cover.

ANI