Flintoff May Pay County to Play in Ipl

The England captain, Kevin Pietersen, and Andrew Flintoff may have to pay off their counties before they are allowed to sign lucrative contracts to play in the Indian Premier League in April. Hampshire and Lancashire are seeking compensation as England's two star players are poised to cash in on the richest tournament in cricket history.

Pietersen already has an offer of $1.7m (£1.1m) on the table and looks certain to play in the IPL. But the Hampshire chairman, Rod Bransgrove, said yesterday: "Some people think that because a player has a central contract the county doesn't have anything to do with him any more. The England management might like to think that that is the case. But it's not.

"England are entitled to play Kevin and they are entitled to rest him. But they can't permit him to play for another team in the course of the domestic cricket season. Any centrally contracted player must have permission from his county if he intends to play in the IPL. And in Kevin's case that's Hampshire.

"I'm prepared to negotiate but if any team wants Kevin to play for them in the course of the county season the franchise concerned would have to reach an agreement with us."

The franchises, however, do not budget for compensation fees when they sign a player, and particularly when it is a sum as big as $1.7m. So any money Hampshire will receive may come from Pietersen's pay packet.

By coincidence, Bransgrove is representing the 18 first-class counties on an England and Wales Cricket Board committee which is redrafting the England players' central contracts, where the issue of release agreements is on the agenda.

Sean Morris, the chief executive of the Professional Cricketers' Association, said: "IPL discussions have been placed on hold recently because of the situation in India. But we have been negotiating about this. And it could be that the money that is paid to the counties could come from both [the player and the franchise]."

Pietersen's agent, Adam Wheatley, who has already confirmed that his man has received offers from the IPL and is "keen to play", added: "Discussions are taking place and the PCA are involved on the players' behalf."

Jim Cumbes, Lancashire's chief executive, said: "The last thing we want to do is stop Freddie making money in the IPL. Good luck to him. But we will be seeking compensation if he does play. The county season will be under way by then.

"No figure has been mentioned. It might be 10% of his contract. And we would prefer it to come from the franchise, rather than the player's pocket."

A source close to Flintoff said yesterday: "Talks are taking place about this. It is all bound up with the new central contracts that are being finalized."