OMEN
07-26-2007, 10:12 PM
No-one was batting an eyelid yesterday amid reports in an Australian newspaper that Stephen Fleming is on the verge of quitting international cricket to play in a rebel series in India.
The newspaper said Fleming was being sought to captain one of the six proposed teams on a three-year deal believed to be worth more than $A500,000 ($NZ556,000) a year.
Fleming, who is playing county cricket in England for Nottinghamshire, could not be contacted last night but both the New Zealand Cricket Players Association and New Zealand Cricket felt it was pie in the sky material.
The rebel series – or Indian Cricket League – is yet to be sanctioned by the International Cricket Council so if Fleming signed he would be in breach of contract, hardly a step he is likely to take after such a distinguished career with New Zealand.
"I talked to Flem a couple of weeks ago and while he was aware of the competition he didn't give me any indication he was close to signing up," NZCPA chief executive Heath Mills said.
Chris Cairns and Nathan Astle are more likely candidates to sign with the ICL, which is offering recent retirees from international cricket a bombload of cash to play eight Twenty20 matches at three Indian venues during October.
Brian Lara signed with the ICL this week for $A500,000 a year while organisers claim they are close to securing Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.
New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said he had no knowledge of any dramatic move by Fleming.
"Stephen Fleming has not spoken to New Zealand Cricket about playing for the Indian Cricket League," Vaughan said.
"He has signed a contract with New Zealand Cricket and the ICL competition is not yet an ICC sanctioned tournament."
The Dominion Post
The newspaper said Fleming was being sought to captain one of the six proposed teams on a three-year deal believed to be worth more than $A500,000 ($NZ556,000) a year.
Fleming, who is playing county cricket in England for Nottinghamshire, could not be contacted last night but both the New Zealand Cricket Players Association and New Zealand Cricket felt it was pie in the sky material.
The rebel series – or Indian Cricket League – is yet to be sanctioned by the International Cricket Council so if Fleming signed he would be in breach of contract, hardly a step he is likely to take after such a distinguished career with New Zealand.
"I talked to Flem a couple of weeks ago and while he was aware of the competition he didn't give me any indication he was close to signing up," NZCPA chief executive Heath Mills said.
Chris Cairns and Nathan Astle are more likely candidates to sign with the ICL, which is offering recent retirees from international cricket a bombload of cash to play eight Twenty20 matches at three Indian venues during October.
Brian Lara signed with the ICL this week for $A500,000 a year while organisers claim they are close to securing Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.
New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said he had no knowledge of any dramatic move by Fleming.
"Stephen Fleming has not spoken to New Zealand Cricket about playing for the Indian Cricket League," Vaughan said.
"He has signed a contract with New Zealand Cricket and the ICL competition is not yet an ICC sanctioned tournament."
The Dominion Post