MUMBAI: The Mumbai Indians may have splurged Rs 17.50 crore on Australian allrounder Cameron Green in the IPL auction but the cricketer will be available to play only as a batsman in the tournament till April 13, thanks to Cricket Australia's workload management policy guidelines for pacers that franchises must follow.
On the morning of the auction, BCCI's CEO and IPL COO Hemang Amin wrote in a communication (TOI has a copy) to the 10 franchises: "Cricket Australia has informed this morning that Cameron Green (player No. 8) will be fully available. However, if he features in all the four Test matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Green will not be able to bowl for four weeks from the conclusion of the fourth Test scheduled from 9th March to 13th March, 2023."
The 23-year-old Green, who was the second-highest earner in the IPL auction, is currently nursing an injured finger which has ruled him out of the third Test between Australia and South Africa beginning on Wednesday.
BCCI's workload statement makes franchises anxious
Meanwhile, IPL franchisees have been left "anxious" following a BCCI statement that the National Cricket Academy (NCA) will monitor the workload of players shortlisted for the 2023 ODI World Cup in India in November.
"Keeping in mind the Men's FTP and preparations for ICC CWC 2023, the NCA will work in tandem with the IPL franchisee to monitor the targeted Indian players participating in the IPL 2023," the BCCI said.
While the franchises do provide reports on the India players' workloads during the IPL, this is the first time that the BCCI has mentioned the NCA's involvement. "Like the other boards (specifically England's cricket board and Cricket Australia), the BCCI should have spelt this out before the IPL auction, so that franchises could have planned accordingly," a franchise official said.
