Kevin Pietersen expects to be playing in India next year, and is on the verge of signing the most lucrative deal yet witnessed in the Indian Premier League, after being offered in excess of US$4million for a three-year contract by an undisclosed IPL franchise.
According to a report in Saturday's Daily Mail, the deal has been financed by one of India's wealthiest families, who want Pietersen to sign "at any price". Mahendra Singh Dhoni is currently the most valuable player in the competition, earning in excess of US$1.5million a year, but such is Pietersen's appeal - on the field and off it - his final figure could yet top that.
The news comes as a blow to the England & Wales Cricket Board, who had hoped to prevent their players from being lured to India ahead of a pivotal summer that includes the ICC World Twenty20 and, of course, the Ashes. An ECB insider told the Daily Mail that the head coach, Peter Moores, would have the final say on which contracted players would be permitted to join the IPL, but in Pietersen's case, they were already resigned to making an exception.
Pietersen is currently 28 and approaching his prime as a cricketer. He has not missed a Test for England since making his debut in the 2005 Ashes, although he will now face a busy run-up to the 2009 rematch against Australia, with England scheduled to tour the Caribbean in February and March before his proposed three-week stint in India. The ECB is naturally fearful of what could happen if the workload proves too much for him, or any other colleagues who might be lured by the IPL, but they are privately resigned to the situation. One man who would not be allowed to take part, however, would be Andrew Flintoff, given his ongoing fitness problems.
Speaking to the same paper earlier in the week, Pietersen set his stall out to play for England until he is 35, but insisted that he shouldn't be denied the opportunity to make the most of his prime years. "I do wonder how long I'm going to do this for," he said. "Time will tell. I could get injured tomorrow and would be finished. That's why I was frustrated and irritated when we weren't allowed to go to India. I definitely want to go next year."
It had been mooted in some quarters that Pietersen could chose to go freelance if the ECB didn't accede to his demands, but he denied that this had entered his thoughts. "Turning down a central contract is not something that has entered my head yet," he said, "but it would be horrendous if four or five of England's best players decided to do that and go to India instead. We should not be in a position where we have to choose. No one else had to."
In a more promising development for the ECB, its proposed tie-up with Allen Stanford is nearing completion. According to the Daily Telegraph, the deal will be worth US$200million over five years, with an annual $20million match to be staged in Antigua until 2012. "The lawyers are still working on the fine print," the ECB's chief executive, David Collier, told the paper, "but we have finalised our negotiations and everything is in place."
I am a South African. I'm a cricketer. I'm a cricket lover...and a hater! I may not be the biggest KP fan, nor the biggest T20 fan...but if I got a shot at making $4million in three years playing cricket I would take it without thinking twice.
Yes...he may be contradicting himself in taking up the offer, and those who wish to see him as a person who "jumps ship" when the going gets tough, it really is your prerogative. But life is about making decisions. Cricketing life even more so with a lot more factors playing huge roles in that decision making that is by all stretches of the imagination a lot more involved than not being able to make up your mind on what to have for dinner.
Who cares what he said a year ago. A year ago I disliked Obama. Now I want him to win the US presidency. Posted by Pagoda32 on May 19 2008, 11:25 AM GMT
On a broader perspective, the IPL has improved the understanding and lines of communication between players of the different countries. This will lead to less sledging and accountability of the players. A definite non-biased level of umpiring too, is on the cards.
This augurs well for the game on the whole. Its not just the money, its time for change as nothing and no one, nor cricket is forever.
Posted by HAVANA on May 19 2008, 03:49 AM GMT
Just want to add that if you place yourself in KP shoes would you have rejected that offer. Certainly not. Look at tennis, golf, or any other sports and compare it with cricket. Unfortunately cricketers have never received such a great deal of financial assistance from there profession. And now if they are, then what is the harm in it. KP should certainly go for it. Its his life and he is free to make any decision. Posted by JawadShah on May 18 2008, 07:27 AM GMT
well everybody has the right to choose what s best for them. But i also think the country needs to come first. Playing for the IPL is no problem, till it will not conflict with your own country matches.
I personally love to see kevin smashing d ball all over d field .. Posted by rasi on May 18 2008, 06:55 AM GMT
Test cricket is the pinnacle of cricket. Representing your country surely must come first. I am not a fan of T20 and believe it should be played sparingly. It's a game for the slogger. You either get away with it or you don't. What happened to playing cricket shots. I would much prefer to sit down and watch a full day of test cricket than a T20 match. I say have your token T20 match to kick start a one day tournament and leave it at that. Money is always going to lure players, why wouldn't these guys want a piece of the action. As long as it doesn't take away your star players from Test cricket. Posted by Jublees on May 18 2008, 03:08 AM GMT
Pietersen is among the best batsmen in the world and he has everything that a T20 batsman should have. He has sound technique and the big shots and thus he is an ideal No.3, someone who will give you the runs in the allotted overs, and he is sure to clink once in three fames, and if he if he does, he is going to win you that game. Posted by fringant on May 18 2008, 00:04 AM GMT
in reply to 'Gee_Cambs', the $4 million is a bit misleading - its 4 million over 3 years, so around 1.33 million per year (just under Dhoni). why its so big is that most players are on 2 year contracts, not 3, so it seems a lot more!
I really don't see what all the fuss is about though - the same conflicts have happened between players and the board for every nation so far, and all have decided to allow their players to go. I cant see England being the only one to stop them and risk a mass player walkout Posted by Harbijanisagit747 on May 17 2008, 22:38 PM GMT
I think this is an excellent opportunity for Kevin. I encourage him to go to India and play out of his skin there. He will be a huge hit and will be an inspiration to millions of young cricketers as well as his former South African team mates. Good on ya, mate, go for it!! Posted by mornhills on May 17 2008, 19:35 PM GMT
Is it ignorance, or am I living on a different planet? In the world where Andrew Symonds (most versatile player) went for $1.3m, will anyone really pay $4m for KP? Agree KP is good but I will be surprised if he fetches more money than Symonds and Dhoni put together.
Also, as far as I know, each team is only allowed to spend at most $5m on the whole team. Am I missing something here? Posted by Gee_Cambs on May 17 2008, 19:29 PM GMT
What a world of double standards we live in! It was less than a year ago that the likes of Kevin Pietersen announced their relentless commitment and loyalty to England and ECB loudly proclaiming that they will never be lured by the IPL bonanza. Now they argue that they should not be denied such opportunities by ECB or England. It is also interesting to note that there is a tradition of top English players withdrawing from a tour to the subcontinent citing health or personal problems. It wasn't long ago that Andrew Flintoff claimed he was shot at in Delhi while touring India. I am looking forward to what his response would be given a lucrative contract by the Delhi Daredevils. While I respect their cricketing abilities, I cannot somehow stop feeling that such acts are born from a racial or cultural disrespect to the region and an arrogant superiority complex pertaining to the imperial past. Right now though, let us all see who obliges. Is it not all about money? Posted by genuine_cricket_lover on May 17 2008, 19:18 PM GMT
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