Gilchrist to play in IPL Twenty20 in April:
Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist has got Cricket Australia's (CA) green signal to play in the cash-rich Indian Premier League in April after he was given a waiver of certain conditions concerning retiring cricketers, his agent said.
Manager Stephen Atkinson said Cricket Australia had given Gilchrist the understanding that he would get a waiver of an agreement between IPL organisers and national boards that there will be a two-year waiting period for retiring players.
"[Gilchrist] could well be playing in the IPL this year - Cricket Australia has indicated there would be no problems with it," Atkinson told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Gilchrist's other current Australian team-mates are, however, uncertain to join the inaugural edition of the BCCI-backed multi-million Twenty20 venture, as CA has asked its contracted players not to sign the completed contract before sorting out some issues.
is anxious to protect its sponsors and does not want to see its contracted players in a team bearing branding of other sponsors which are in competition of its sponsors.
Moreover, Australia is scheduled to visit Pakistan in March-April though it is uncertain due to security reasons.
Atkinson denied the waiver could become a precedent for other international stars who want to retire prematurely.
"That two-year limit is really designed for young players, so it stops a player like Michael Clarke retiring and then signing a 10-year deal with the IPL," he said.
The agreement had arisen out of worry that top stars could quit national duties prematurely in the quest.