Flintoff rejects England contract

[rahuldravidfan]

Howsie.... I can vouch for Sri Lanka, who opted out of an unnecessary English tour to play in our IPL. Australia & SA are our partners in the Champions League T20, a league which everyone wants to play. And Pakistan are our brothers, who are having a few bad days just like Ireland & England have all the time. We are ONE at the end of the day and thats what matters. So I don't think anyone has a bigger issue than the ECB, who wants to dictate terms to world cricket and use the leverage they dont have !

Coming back to the topic, I think a particular Kevin Pietersen will be keenly following Fred's developments

 

[Howsie]

Howsie.... I can vouch for Sri Lanka, who opted out of an unnecessary English tour to play in our IPL. Australia & SA are our partners in the Champions League T20, a league which everyone wants to play. And Pakistan are our brothers, who are having a few bad days just like Ireland & England have all the time. We are ONE at the end of the day and thats what matters. So I don't think anyone has a bigger issue than the ECB, who wants to dictate terms to world cricket and use the leverage they dont have !

Coming back to the topic, I think a particular Kevin Pietersen will be keenly following Fred's developments

Please tell me your kidding.

 

[rahuldravidfan]

I don't know what news you read or what your opinions are but people pretty much all over the world know that for a fact. And the Stanford thing was just an attempt to level up, which failed miserably to be honest. And so was the "conspicuous" decision to schedule a series against West Indies, which clashed with the IPL, a tournament the English cricketers were sooo looking forward to playing.

And I think you are going off-topic, despite me getting onto it with every comment I make !

Getting back to the topic, I feel for Strauss. But the fact that you had a man who played the last few yrs on one leg, bowling 90+ constantly & giving 200% to every game, I believe he is justified in selecting to be a free-lance cricketer. It is HIS decision. You and me have nothing to do with it !

 

[Sureshot]

I refuse to be party to the allegations levelled against Fred. Look, the ECB are a mess. They have serious issues with the BCCI & IPL running the game and instead of trying to sort the matter out amicably, they are trying to use leverage they don't have. By refusing the English players an opportunity to play the complete IPL, the contracts of which will earn the players more than they will playing for a COMPLETE year for England, the ECB is only doing itself harm. Today there is Fred, who has stood up for himself. Tomo there will be more ppl like him who you guys will castigate on the internet.

But no one really wants to lay the blame on ECB for its role in making English cricket the mess it is at the moment !

Reading this might help some of you - Don't hurl brickbats at Flintoff | Opinion | Cricinfo Magazine | Cricinfo.com

The ECB is concerned about it's players not being available for tours and series, are you that surprised? No form of domestic cricket should ever get in the way of international cricket. I'm proud our board can stand up to the business men running Indian cricket and the franchises, even if other boards lack the balls to do it.

 

[m_vaughan]

How do you become the best international one-day and twenty20 player by playing club cricket in different countries? As long as he is not playing some IPL game when England are playing an ODI or T20 game, its fine.

 

[Deleted member 11215]

Lol at people questioning the loyalty of a man who's played on one leg for his country for about 2 years. Nice one lads.

Amen, he's given 100% every time he's put on the shirt and almost always made something happen. Considering he's going to miss out on a few years of his career due to his injury i see no problem in him trying to make a bit more cash. But then again I only watch Test cricket as i have no interest in ODI or 20/20 cricket but it seems a bit crazy to play 3 ODIs in a nothing series when he could double his IPL pay packet. We all know we'd do it and we've done nothing for the country. But i have the same feeling that if someones been in the army and done their term then they can go do private security stuff.

 

[Sureshot]

England shouldn't bend over for him to be intermittently included in ODI selection, that's my point.

 

[evertonfan]

They seem to be making a habit out of not picking the best players in the country so Flintoff's probably not even in their thoughts anyway.

 

[Cricketman]

I just hope he doesn't turn his back on the team when he's called up for duty.

And I agree, how do you become a the best limited over player in the world by playing circus tournaments in random countries?

Btw, is he still playing FC cricket for the Lancs?

 

[Insomniac]

Howsie.... I can vouch for Sri Lanka, who opted out of an unnecessary English tour to play in our IPL. Australia & SA are our partners in the Champions League T20, a league which everyone wants to play. And Pakistan are our brothers, who are having a few bad days just like Ireland & England have all the time. We are ONE at the end of the day and thats what matters. So I don't think anyone has a bigger issue than the ECB, who wants to dictate terms to world cricket and use the leverage they dont have !

Coming back to the topic, I think a particular Kevin Pietersen will be keenly following Fred's developments

This is the first time I've heard this :laugh

 

[BackwardPoint]

Everyone knows CSA runs world cricket :sarcasm

 

[Howsie]

McCullum did not try to refuse contract - Vaughan | New Zealand Cricket News | Cricinfo.com

The Sydney Morning Herald had quoted Lalit Modi as saying that McCullum had tried to exploit a "loophole" and "become a free agent" so that he could play for Kolkata Knight Riders through the Twenty20 league.

Vaughan said there was no question of McCullum refusing his New Zealand contract and said that he, along with captain Daniel Vettori, Jacob Oram, Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder, had just been given more time to sign. "There were never any discussions along the lines of refusing his contract," Vaughan told the New Zealand Herald. "That was never a possibility and, as far as I was aware, there was never any exploration of loopholes.

Good, this just makes me hate Lalit Modi more.

 

[rahuldravidfan]

The ECB is concerned about it's players not being available for tours and series, are you that surprised? No form of domestic cricket should ever get in the way of international cricket. I'm proud our board can stand up to the business men running Indian cricket and the franchises, even if other boards lack the balls to do it.

Well, conversly, only your board has a problem with BCCI. All the other boards seem to agree with the BCCI. They aren't idiots, are they, big boy?

This is the first time I've heard this :laugh

When they screw around with you, dont come crying to the BCCI, asking us to play a series with you

McCullum did not try to refuse contract - Vaughan | New Zealand Cricket News | Cricinfo.com

Good, this just makes me hate Lalit Modi more.

So now you are gonna pick on him eventhough he did what's best for world cricket?

As for Vaughan's statement, heard of something called "cover-up"?

Coming back to the topic, Graeme Smith too has come out in support of Fred - End 'meaningless' tours - Graeme Smith | Cricket News | ICC Champions Trophy 2009 | Cricinfo.com

 

[Howsie]

Well, conversly, only your board has a problem with BCCI. All the other boards seem to agree with the BCCI. They aren't idiots, are they, big boy?




When they screw around with you, dont come crying to the BCCI, asking us to play a series with you




So now you are gonna pick on him eventhough he did what's best for world cricket?

As for Vaughan's statement, heard of something called "cover-up"?

Coming back to the topic, Graeme Smith too has come out in support of Fred - End 'meaningless' tours - Graeme Smith | Cricket News | ICC Champions Trophy 2009 | Cricinfo.com

I'm pretty sure most cricket boards don't like the BCCI, it wouldn't just be England.

As for Modi, why did he have to come out and name McCullum. Talkback will be buzzing with calls for the blackcaps to get rid of him now.

 

[SaiSrini]

Well done Fred. All these boards (including the BCCI) put these nonsense contracts and tie you down big time. Its the ideal time for a guy like Fred to come out and say "Thanks but no thanks".

As I can see, Fred can play IPL 2010 because he already has the NOC for it. He doesnt have the NOC for IPL 2011. He may as well skip that year of IPL and play cricket in other countries/county, etc and then he would be on his own terms to play IPL 2012 (since he needs NOC from the home board only if the IPL is within two years of his retirement/refusing contract). This is now going to be a messy situation. Boards will now try to force international players into contracts (no contract, no international cricket) and players might not take it lightly. I wish this snowballs into something big and I hope ultimately the players win.