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Indian Premier League
Cobras stars to turn up for IPL
Cricinfo staff
April 7, 2008
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Graeme Smith will stay on for the IPL instead of playing in South Africa's domestic 20-over tournament
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The Cobras have allowed five of their players, who are currently in India with the South African squad, to stay on for the IPL instead of returning home for the domestic Standard Bank Pro20 tournament. Jacques Kallis, Graeme Smith, Herschelle Gibbs, Mark Boucher and Ashwell Prince will thus remain in India after the third Test in Kanpur, which starts on April 11.
Lalit Modi, the IPL chairman, indicated that the Titans might also follow suit and allow three of their IPL players who are in India - AB de Villiers, Albie Morkel and Dale Steyn - to miss the domestic tournament. He also said that talks were on with the franchises of the three other South African players who are involved in the IPL - Eagles (Loots Bosman), Dolphins (Shaun Pollock) and Warriors (Makhaya Ntini) - to grant exemption to these players.
The Pro20 Series, South Africa's domestic 20-over tournament, involves seven teams, including Zimbabwe, and concludes on April 25. With the IPL starting on April 18, this means the Cobras' players will not miss the first week of the tournament. The IPL franchise which benefits the most from this decision is the Bangalore Royal Challengers, who have Kallis, Steyn and Boucher in their ranks. Gibbs is with the Deccan Chargers, while Smith has been signed up by the Rajasthan Royals.
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