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 Ridiculous for ECB not to allow its players in the IPL: Warne
20th Apr 2008 19:00 IST
Agencies
Spin legend Shane Warne has slammed England and Wales Cricket Board for not allowing its centrally contracted players to turn out in the lucrative Indian Premier League.
Dimitry Mascarenhas is the only England player in the IPL. He is not an ECB-contracted player and has signed up for Rajasthan Royals captained by his former Hampshire skipper Warne.
Ridiculing ECB's policy, Warne said the presence of England players in the IPL would only benefit the game.
"Twenty20 is exciting and IPL is a great idea. Cricketers from diverse cultures come together here and share the experience. This is great for cricket.
"This has been going on in England for quite a long time, with cricketers from other countries playing in counties. It is ridiculous for the ECB not to allow its players in the IPL," Warne said after his side lost to Delhi Daredevils by nine wickets at the Ferozeshah Kotla in New Delhi.
Warne said any captain would have loved to have England stars like Kevin Pietersen in his IPL team.
"It is real shame that players like Pietersen or Andrew Flintoff are not in the IPL. You want them to play in such a high-profile tournament," he said.
Pietersen, Test captain Michael Vaughan and ODI skipper Paul Collingwood have vented their frustration at ECB's stance.
Daredevils captain Virender Sehwag said he would have loved to have players like Pietersen in his team.
"But it depends on ECB. It did not want its cricketers to play here. That is their policy, we have to respect that," he said. |
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