Jofra Archer IPL Contract – Frustrated with Jofra Archer leaving IPL 2023, Mumbai Indians are set to offer an annual contract to the England pacer. Archer has played just 5 games since being picked up by MI for Rs 8 Crore in 2022 Auction. But with England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) calling him back to complete injury rehab ahead of Ashes 2023 and World Cup 2023, it has left MI frustrated. Follow IPL 2023 LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
As per Daily Mail, MI want greater control over the pacer and hence have offered an annual contract. It could force him to stay with the franchise. Furthermore, he would need MI’s NOC to play international cricket.
Archer has been struggling with an elbow injury for the last three years. Despite missing most of 2021 and 2022, Mumbai Indians offered him a grand 8 Cr contract. However, much to MI’s frustration, ECB called Archer back home after another injury setback, dealing a blow to MI’s title aspirations.
But as the Reliance-backed MI franchise also has teams in ILT20 (UAE), SA20 (South Africa) and Major League Cricket (USA), they want to have Archer around the year. However, InsideSport understands that MI are yet to hold talks with the English pacer on an annual contract. As Archer is still a centrally contracted player for ECB, he would not be able to sign such a deal yet. If the bowler signs any deal with MI, he will have to forego a contract with ECB.
What is annual contract and how would it work?
As IPL franchises expand their wings in UAE, The Caribbean, USA and South Africa, they want greater control on players. On an annual contract, franchisees will be able to play them in multiple franchise leagues.
While the current contract structure with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) prevents them from doing so, some of the franchisees have been demanding a new structure from IPL 2025. When the mega auction will be held again in 2025, franchises may be able to offer their own contract.
“It’s a long shot at this moment. But yes, it is an idea. But it is going to be a reality sooner or later. Even if the current international players don’t want a multi-franchise contract, someone who has retired could get financial and playing security. It is something that many teams will be exploring,” a franchise official told InsideSport earlier.
Players like Daniel Sams, Trent Boult and some of the biggest West Indies stars are already boycotting central contracts for franchise cricket. Franchises have already been mulling offering annual contracts to the likes of Jos Buttler and Alex Hales are among other international stars. As many as 16 players have contracts with two or more teams of the same franchises.
“There is no doubt that franchise cricket will take over the traditional idea of bilateral cricket soon. BCCI might have the financial might to hold on to their stars due to IPL. But players who are not regulars in IPL and not in national team could think of moving out. Then boards like South Africa, West Indies or Sri Lanka will have no sway over their players. With little money on offer, they will move away from the national team and play in franchise cricket,” an official from an IPL franchise explained.
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