Cricket Australia has told 11 of its top players, including captain Ricky Ponting, Brett Lee and Adam Gilchrist that they would not be granted permission to play in the ICC-sanctioned Indian Premier League's Twenty20 tournament.CA Chief Executive James Sutherland claimed the players signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to play in the tournament in April and May without consulting the Board."A number of significant issues remain unresolved, particularly regarding Australian players' participation in the proposed events and the terms of participation," Sutherland said."Until CA is satisfied with the various terms and conditions associated with the IPL and CT20 (Champions League), CA will not consent to you or any other contracted player's participation in the aforementioned tournaments," he was quoted as saying by the Sun-Herald.Sutherland also made it clear that the players were acting in direct conflict of the terms and conditions of their CA contracts."You will no doubt be aware that this MOU sees you providing undertakings that will put you in conflict with your obligations to CA and/or your state association," he wrote."In this context, I am disappointed that you have chosen not to discuss or advise CA of your decision."However, it was intriguing that Sutherland does not know who has signed with the IPL because he and operations manager Michael Brown were at the ICC's headquarters to discuss the structure of the Champions Twenty20 League when IPL agent Neil Maxwell delivered the signed agreements to BCCI representatives in Dubai.
