29/2/2008

Sport in Surrey

Cricket: Ramps keeping options open

Mark Ramprakash is considering his options for playing in India later this year

MARK RAMPRAKASH is weighing up his options over the Indian Twenty20 circus threatening to revolutionise world cricket.

The 38-year-old – who has been awarded a testimonial game this year by Surrey – has been linked with the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), which is vying with the establishment-backed Premier League (IPL) in a contest started by a row about TV rights.

A new ICL season starts in March with another due later in the year. Ramprakash said: “I wouldn’t do anything which disrupts Surrey’s preparations and I’ve hardly picked up a bat because I’ve been suffering from a virus.

“The November series might interest me. It’s in our off-season and wouldn’t affect my county commitments, so I’m keeping my options open.

"But the series in March and April is not for me. I wouldn’t want to do anything which interferes with my county availability.”

The English cricket authorities have been stepping up efforts to discourage players from joining the ICL, given the financial sway the Indian board now have over the whole game.

One man already involved in the ICL is Saqlain Mushtaq, who has returned to Surrey this season and is now English-qualified.

First printed in: Surrey Advertiser