Indian Premier League - Flintoff, Kp Lead English Cricketers for Auction

For their prospective teams in the IPL, having one of them in their team shall give it added stature, as these men have the ability to carry their team on a given day if needed to. And it is because of their exploits of what they can do in the cricket field both in international competitions and in domestic matches have made them the highest priced players for the IPL auction on February 6.

Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff are expected to draw salaries that are comparable to football players for their three week stint in the IPL as the duo lead a cast of 20 English cricket players who have entered the Indian Premier League auction. The eight teams in the IPL use the auction to get players that they perceive that they need to improve their chances of winning the tournament this year which shall be held on April 10 to May 29.

Prolific batsman Pietersen has been awarded the highest reservation fee among all England players at $1.35 million while all rounder Flintoff came in second at $950,000. Even if the duo were paid their minimum price, their pay for their three week stint can be above $350,000 pro rata basis for the tournament, a salary comparable to top flight footballers like Cristiano Ronaldo and Frank Lampard.

Flintoff, on the other hand, may have $950,000 but it can possibly go higher as the teams shall try to outbid each other just to get him. It can turn into a competitive bidding and a price war since these teams can afford to do so and are very keen to get the top English all rounder. Among the teams rumored to be interested in his services are the Chennai Super Kings and the Mumbai Indians. He can turn into the the highest paid player then.

Last season, the two highest priced contracts were given to Indian captain MS Dhoni who agreed to a @1.5 million contarct after initially being valued at $400,000. Australian all rounder Andrew Symmonds acquired the second highest contract of $1.3 million after he was rated at $300,000.

Seeing such contracts awarded to players who join the IPL, a total number of 114 players with 27 Australians, 14 South Africans, 15 Sri Lankans, and a group of players coming from the West Indies, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh have declared themselves available for the auction. The reality though is that with only eight teams in the league and limited team places, not everyone who has decided to join the auction may be picked up in the auction and awarded the contracts. Aside from Pietersen and Flintoff, English cricketers who have intentions of joining the IPL are Steve Harmison, James Anderson, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Matt Prior, Monty Panesar, Ravi Bopara, Shaun Udal, Ryan Sidebottom, Owais Shah and Graeme Swan.

Powerhouse Australia have its vice-captain Michael Clarke, Bradd Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Stuart Clark, Jason Krejza, Shaun Tait and Bradd Hogg among others as participants.

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