All set to lead the Kolkata team in BCCI's multi-billion dollar Indian Premier League, Sourav Ganguly has turned his attention to roping in four key foreign players for the side which begins its campaign on April 18, the inaugural day of the tournament.
Though a formal announcement on Ganguly's appointment as captain would be made after February 20, sources close to the former Indian skipper said he had a telephonic conversation with Bollywood star and Kolkata team's franchisee owner Shah Rukh Khan on Monday where the matter was settled.
Sources claimed that Shah Rukh, the owner of the Kolkata team franchisee Red Chillies Entertainment, requested Ganguly to select a team with players of his choice.
As per IPL rules, a team should have four local players and a maximum of four foreign ones. Meanwhile, players like Shahid Afridi, Adam Gilchrist, Jaques Kallis, Brett Lee, Mathew Hayden are among those on Ganguly's radar as representatives from abroad.
"I would always like to have players like Gilly (Adam Gilchrist), Jaques Kallis, Hayden, Shaun Pollock, Lee, Shahid Afridi and Yousuf Youhana in my side," Ganguly said.
Excited at the prospect of the league, Ganguly said "I am excited about the IPL. I have played it during my County stint I am looking forward to the new challenge."
Among the recruits from other states, Indian captain MS Dhoni tops the priority list of the officials of the Kolkata team.
Aussies set deadline
Meanwhile, Indian Premier League Chairman Lalit Modi made it clear that no global protection for Cricket Australia’s sponsors would be given “under any circumstances” and set Sunday as the deadline for the players to sign their contracts, adds PTI.
Modi said Sunday was the deadline for IPL contracts to be signed and returned, so that players could be auctioned to the eight franchise teams next Wednesday, which means Australian cricketers would have to decide on either to defy their own Board, or face a three-year ban from the tournament.
“They are running out of time. I am not the type that won’t follow through with what I say: if the contracts are not signed and returned by Sunday the Australian players will not be allowed to take part in the IPL for three years. We are taking a list to owners on Monday,” Modi said.
