ENGLAND players could be forced to choose between the Indian Premier League and their country - and Australia's might have to do the same - after IPL boss Lalit Modi decided the players' two-week availability for the tournament is not long enough.
England play the West Indies in their first Test starting on May 6, giving the players about 15 days to play IPL. However, although the England and Wales Cricket Board thought it had cleared a path for the England players to compete at the IPL, Modi has apparently reversed the agreement and now decreed that to qualify for a two-year club deal, the players must be available for at least a month.
The stalemate could catch out as many as six England players, including Kevin Pietersen. The player auction is on February 6.
"This development is a serious concern," Professional Cricketers Association chief Sean Morris told England's Daily Telegraph. "If we are the only country not to have players appearing in the IPL then that would not be a good prospect."
Australia are due to play Pakistan in a one-day series after touring South Africa, meaning the Australians will have similar time constraints to the England players .
Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young said yesterday that if the Pakistan series did go ahead there would be be some overlap.
"As far as we expect, our players would still be able to play in some of the IPL," he said.
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