The Hindu Business Line : Cricketers warned of agents offering passports to IPL

New Delhi, Sept. 5 The BCCI on Friday “cautioned cricketers against signing contracts” that promise them a place in one of the eight Indian Premier League (IPL) franchisees.

“It has been brought to our notice that some player agents have been going around and contacting the junior cricketers from state associations, luring them of a place in one of the eight franchisee teams of the IPL,” said an official statement.

Young cricketers who may be the next big stars of the league cricket are being picked up before you can spell out IPL.

According to an industry insider, a Mumbai-based agency working as a consultant to two of the franchisees have been scouting for talent at every junior meet.

The wooing is not just proactive but coercive, with some of the contracts including conditions such as a 30 per cent of players earnings over ten years for the agent. Agencies working for franchisees are also taking cuts both ways, from the players as well as the players’ future owners.

According to sources, a young boy at the National Cricket Academy took his contract to Mr Dave Whatmore, Director of Operations, who took the matter up with BCCI.

Welcoming BCCI’s statement, Ms Latika Khaneja, Director, Collage, which handles Virender Sehwag and Ishant Sharma as well as several youngsters said a talent management firm has no business offering placement.

“It’s incorrect and unethical to take a cut from a player’s income. We might play roles in getting and managing their endorsements, but we have no contribution in their cricket, and that’s the basis on which they get selected. I can make a recommendation, but that’s where it ends,” she said.

Mr Nandan Kamath, Director, GoSports, which manages Ryan Ninan and K.P. Appanna, and is looking at new talent, believes players should be educated about their legal rights and signing contracts.

“It’s all very new even for many agents. And there is a lot of misuse. In the interest of the talents, the BCCI should consider some kind of regulation or licensing of agents also,” said Mr Kamath.

Meanwhile, the IPL will also be finalising the guidelines for what a franchise can do with his talent. In other words, how players can be bartered and how their valuations are to be made. “We are finalising the details on what franchisees can do with players, player transfers and this should be completed before the month is out,” said Mr Sundar Raman, CEO, IPL.

He was speaking at a sports marketing summit in the Capital on Friday organised by media and advertising portal Afaqs! The guidelines are also likely to decide on the necessity of a player’s consent in his transfer.

Post a poor show of his team, Royal Challenger owner Mr Vijay Mallya had lashed at team captain Rahul Dravid. The former Indian captain reportedly was just as keen to part ways with his franchisee.