Lucrative IPL may lure England players away, warns Collingwood
By Staff
ani-Staff
London, June 25 : England one-day team captain Paul Collingwood has said that the lure of the Indian Premier League (IPL) could make team players turn their backs on their country.
Speaking on the eve of the fourth one-day international against New Zealand at The Oval, Collingwood claimed it was inevitable that big money on offer could turn heads.
A survey carried out by the Professional Cricketers' Association on Monday revealed that half of England's players would consider quitting international cricket to join the IPL.
Last night, according to The Sun, Colly insisted it was "common sense" that players would put money first.
He said: "You make good money playing for England and we love playing for England. But the money in the IPL is 10 times what you are earning for four or six weeks work. When you get the kind of money that is being bandied about in IPL, people are going to be tempted," he said.
England must concentrate on regaining the initiative in the series after their slipshod batting display at Bristol saw New Zealand draw level at 1-1. England folded alarmingly chasing just 182.
ENGLAND: (probable): Bell or Cook, Wright, Pietersen, Bopara, Shah, Collingwood (captain), Ambrose (wicket keeper) Swann, Broad, Sidebottom, Anderson.