Brisbane/Mumbai, Feb.9 (ANI): Indian Premier League Commissioner and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Lalit Modi has said he would more than pleased to have troubled all-rounder Andrew Symonds participate full time in the second edition of the IPL, which is slotted for April-May this year.
Despite the former Test star's off-field controversies, Modi said Symonds would not be blacklisted from competing in the 20-over extravaganza.
"If he is not picked in the Australian team, I would like to see him here for the whole tournament. That would be great," Modi said.
"He would be a wonderful asset. If there was a ban on him by the ICC, that is one thing, but he has not made any derogatory comments or done anything wrong as far as the IPL is concerned. He is a contracted player to the Deccan Chargers and I see no reason why he shouldn't be able to play," Modi added.
Symonds will be almost a million better off if Cricket Australia rules him unfit for the limited-overs series against Pakistan in April.
Even as he embarks on a counselling program, according to Fox Sports, he stands to profit handsomely if his exile is extended beyond the tour of South Africa.
Any decision by CA to block Symonds will allow him to be available for the duration of the cash-crazy Indian Premier League.
His deal with the Deccan Chargers is valued at 1.47 million dollars and he will pocket every cent if he plays out the six-week tournament.
But if he is cleared to play five one-dayers against Pakistan, Symonds will have only a two-week window to appear in the IPL, slashing his earnings potential to 490,000 dollars.A five-match stint against Pakistan will earn Symonds 30,600 dollars in match fees - meaning his prospective recall to the national set-up will cost him about 949,400 dollars.The financial advantages of the IPL have fuelled speculation Symonds could walk away from Australian cricket in favour of an annual six-week cameo in India.
Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young said the governing body would not force Symonds to sit out the IPL if deemed unfit for the Pakistan series.
The enigmatic Queenslander has just over a month to convince CA he is in an appropriate state of mind to return to the Australian fold. (ANI)
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