Cairns & Astle linked to Twenty20

Inquires from the New Zealand Dominion Post newspaper have uncovered that former Black Caps Chris Cairns and Nathan Astle have been approached for the rival Twenty20 League in India.

New Zealand Players Association head Heath Mills told the Dominion Post that “I have been aware of the concept for some time through my involvement on the Fica (international players’ association) board.”

Mills went onto say “Some players here have been contacted but the event concerned is not focused on current players – at this stage they are more interested in players who are recently retired.”

Mills confirmed that no high profile Black Caps had been directly approached to join the rebel competition in India that is going up against the BCCI and that no current players could be approached until the International Cricket Council gave their approval.

Mills confirmed that the intention from the organisers was to get approval from the ICC and that if the competition was played in a gap in the international window, there was no reason why current international players couldn’t be involved.