Spinning great Ravichandran Ashwin could become the first Indian star to feature in the Big Bash League in what would be a major boost for Australia's T20 competition.
After only recently retiring from the Indian Premier League, Cricket Australia has reached out to Ashwin to gauge his interest in joining one of the eight BBL franchises.
In an ominous statement last week, Ashwin said: "My time as an IPL cricketer comes to a close but my time as an explorer of the game around various leagues begins today."
First reported by Cricbuzz, CA has confirmed to AAP that chief executive Todd Greenberg has been in discussions with the 38-year-old.
The BBL has been desperate to land an Indian star since the competition's inception in 2011.
A two-time IPL champion, Ashwin would immediately bring extra fans to games and boost TV ratings.
A home at one of the four franchises across Melbourne and Sydney would make the most sense given the huge Indian expat population living in those cities.
Ashwin took 537 wickets in 106 Tests, often tormenting Australia in Indian conditions.
He travelled to Australia for last summer's Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but retired immediately after the drawn third Test at the Gabba and returned home to India.
Even though the BBL draft for the upcoming season took place in June, CA could still get creative to find a spot for Ashwin.
Indian cricketers have been confined to the juggernaut that is the IPL, depriving other T20 leagues of their talents.
But with Ashwin no longer tied to Indian cricket, the hierarchy in the country would not be able to stop him.
Pakistan stars Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam will play in the BBL this summer, but interest in Ashwin would top all three of them.
The BBL will get under way on December 14.
