New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming may abruptly end his international
career to join the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), according to a media
report here.
Fleming has been approached by the ICL officials and the lucrative offer might
prompt the Kiwi skipper to quit international cricket and join the league, according
to 'The Australia' newspaper.
The report quoted unnamed sources as saying that Fleming had
been offered a deal worth USD 440,000 a year to skipper any one of the six teams
in the proposed league.
"Why is that awkward if you are planning retirement?"
asked a source close to the ICL negotiations.
Fleming retired from one day cricket after leading the side
to the semifinals of the World Cup in the West Indies and is expected
to lead New Zealand in the tour of South Africa which, incidentally,
coincides with the first ICL Twenty20 league.
Though ICL staged a major coup of sort by roping in West Indies
batting great Brian Lara while the likes of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath are
also ready to jump on the bandwagon, getting a contemporary player of Fleming's
stature would be a huge morale booster for the organisers.
Meanwhile, former Australian batsman Dean Jones, part of the
ICL Executive Board, said that though Damien Martyn and Justin Langer had rejected
similar offer, he was in touch with some other Australian players, who are all
set to join the league.
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