Indian Cricket League were targetting New Zealand express fast bowler Shane Bond,
a report said today.
The ICL, who have already been looking to sign up Test captain Stephen Fleming,
were offering the pace ace a "staggering" sum to play in the unauthorised
Twenty-20 tournament in India in October-November, 'New Zealand Herald
on Sunday' said.
The ICL, bankrolled by Subhash Chandra-owned Essel Group, have
already roped in West Indian legend Brian Lara; Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf,
Imran Farhat and Abdur Razzaq of Pakistan; and South Africa's Lance Klusener
and Nicky Boje.
Former Kiwi players Chris Cairns, Chris Harris
and Nathan Astle were also reportedly on the ICL radar.
Should he sign, Bond would be the first world class bowler
to join the ICL.
The former police sergeant, however, has remained tight-lipped about, the reports
said.
Meanwhile, former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe
said he expected Fleming to stay with the 'Black Caps'.
The report speculated that Fleming was being offered 440,000 dollars for a
season on a three-year contract.
"There's two ways of looking at it. You either have a
desire to play for your country, or you look at it [the ICL] as an opportunity
to get a retirement package going," Crowe reportedly said.
"I took it he gave up the one-day international captaincy to focus the
rest of his career on Test cricket. I hope that's still the case."
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