Warner call will smash the BBL
AUSSIE T20 STAR DECIDES TO FLY EMIRATES
AUSTRALIA cricket is at a crossroad, with David Warner requesting to play in the UAE T20 league in January at the height of the summer program.
It is understood Warner is in high-level negotiations over the move in a blow to the BBL, which had hoped to attract the centrally contracted Australian players to the tournament in that month.
A decision may be made by the end of the week as the tournament is pressing players to sign preliminary contracts.
Contracted players must receive a No Objection Certificate to participate in franchise competitions overseas.
The UAE league, which has heavy investment from IPL franchises, is understood to be offering three-year contracts worth $700,000 a year for participation. Warner would make a fraction of that in the BBL and would not be able to captain a franchise because he has a lifetime ban, but his leadership skills are respected overseas.
Warner led Hyderabad to their maiden title in 2016 and was the IPL’s highest run scorer in 2015, 2017 and 2019.
He was also player of the tournament for Australia in its successful T20 World Cup campaign last year.
Warner is one of the highest profile T20 cricketers in the world, but has rarely played BBL, does not have a contract with any BBL club and has no duties with the national or state teams in January after South Africa cancelled its ODI matches to avoid a clash with its own T20 league expected to begin around the same time.
Warner’s Delhi Capitals owns a side in the UAE league and, like the other Indianowned franchises, has been given permission to draft four of its contracted players.
There are growing fears in cricket that players will soon migrate to year-long contracts to private franchises, with the owners purchasing teams in the UAE, the Caribbean and South Africa.
Warner’s move represents a tipping point for Australian cricket, which has always been happy to sign the necessary no objection certificates for the IPL and other leagues which do not compete with the BBL.
As he does not have a BBL contract, it is hard to see how there can be any objection to him playing in the UAE, but it is a blow to the organisers of the BBL who are trying desperately to attract big names to the embattled tournament.
His move may fast-track tying BBL availability to national contracts which could force players close to the end of their careers to make an early call on the future.
The BBL is in competition with the UAE and South African tournaments which are both shorter than the Australian competition, which has slipped in standing for overseas cricketers.