Source: The AgeTHIS summer's Big Bash will be largely devoid of high-profile international imports - including Kieron Pollard and Chris Gayle - because of other countries' conflicting tours and tournaments.
The ability of West Indians Gayle and Kemar Roach (Western Australia) and Pollard (South Australia) to fully honour their Australia contracts is unlikely because of the West Indies' decision to shift its domestic Twenty20 tournament from July to January. The exact dates of the Caribbean Twenty20 tournament are yet to be finalised, although it will be longer than 10 days, as it was for this year's tournament.
The main complicating factor for West Indies players wanting to play in the Big Bash is that they are contractually bound to play in their domestic Twenty20 tournament in order to be considered for the national Twenty20 team. All three of their players planning to play in Australia - captain Gayle, Roach and Pollard are regulars in the West Indian Twenty20 team, as is all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, who played for Victoria last year and is keen to return.
West Indies Cricket Board spokesman Imran Khan said its players would not be prevented from playing in a small portion of the Big Bash if it came before the start of the Caribbean Twenty20, ''provided that their territorial teams do not require them to be in participate in any preparatory camps''.
These Players could lose big money due to the conflict with the Caribbean T20. Will any of the players opt out to play Big Bash and Cash in or settle for pennies?