January 27, 2008	Sunday	Muharram 17, 1429

MELBOURNE, Jan 26: While the cash-rich Indian Premier League has taken a step forward by selling off their eight teams for USD 724 million, the Australian players are still waiting to know if they would take part in the Twenty20 competition.

Top players like captain Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds, Mike Hussey, Adam Gilchrist and Michael Clarke have all signed expressions of interest, but are keen to ink playing contracts before a bidding war begins for their services on February 8.

The players are growing increasingly agitated that Cricket Australia and the IPL are still working on several aspects of the contracts, the League’s Australian-based manager Neil Maxwell said.

”FICA (Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations) and the Australian Cricketers’ Association are keen for the players to be involved but they can’t be involved if there are are no specifics around the contracts,” Maxwell said on Friday. “That’s got to do with things like unlimited endorsements, sponsorships and player rights,” he was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun .

CA is also concerned about a potential conflict of interests between one of its major sponsors, Foster’s Group, and IPL backer Kingfisher Brewery.—Agencies