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Brisbane: Retiring Aussie wicketkeeper batsman Adam Gilchrist will be cleared to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament this year.
Although there is an agreement between the organisers and national boards that there would be a two-year waiting period for retiring players, Gilchrist, 36, will be an exception.
Gilchrist's manager Stephen Atkinson said he would be free to play in the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) billion-dollar Twenty20 tournament.
"Gilchrist could well be playing in the IPL this year, Cricket Australia has indicated there would be no problems with it," Atkinson said.
Participating cricket nations were worried some of their top stars could quit nationals prematurely, lured by the big money offered by IPL franchises. So the BCCI agreed that players must be retired for two years before they can join a team.
The BCCI would very much want Gilchrist to play in the inaugural season, given his reputation. If he plays, he might act as a precedent for other stars although Atkinson said that wouldn't be the case.
"That two-year limit is really designed for young players, so it stops a player like Michael Clarke retiring and then signing a 10-year deal with the IPL," he said.
Gilchrist is in demand, even in the twilight of his playing career, with CA preparing to secure his services in a coaching or promotional capacity.
CA chief executive James Sutherland told Gilchrist nearly 12 months ago, when the player announced his retirement, that he should talk about his future with the organisation. Sutherland hopes to meet Gilchrist soon to determine the avenues he wishes to explore.
Atkinson said Gilchrist would have time to work with CA and also play in the IPL. "They play cricket for 10 months of the year, so when he retires, he'll have 10 months up his sleeve. He will have the time."
The two-year limit is really designed for young players, so it stops a player like Michael Clarke retiring and signing a 10-year deal."
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