England players hold back contracts,want 2010 IPL guarantee

England cricketers have refused to hand over their signed central contracts to the ECB until they get the guarantee about their availability...

England cricketers have refused to hand over their signed central contracts to the ECB until they get the guarantee about their availability for the 2010 Indian Premier League.

The ECB had cleared the way for its players to take part in this years Indian Premier League by granting a 21-day window. But now it has come out that the players and the ECB still have issues to settle,and the IPL continues to be a distraction as the team prepare for the opening Test in the West Indies,according to a report.

Sean Morris,chief executive of Professional Cricketers Association,said the players wanted a commitment from the ECB which the Board cannot do because of clash of schedules.

Story continues below this ad

ECB,however,are in a difficult position to offer a commitment because the dates for the 2010 IPL have not been released. If the 2010 IPL is played in its usual slot in April-May it will clash with World Twenty20 in the Caribbean and Englands home Test series against Bangladesh.

The players have signed the contracts but they are on my desk and I am holding on to them until we get resolution on this. The players have asked me to make sure the finer details are all in place before they are released, Morris said.

It is up to the ECB and BCCI to organise fixtures going forward that leave a window for the IPL so there is not a clash for 2010, Morris was quoted as saying by Telegraph Sport.