Former Australian Cricketer Damien Martyn has been confirmed as the new recruit on the Indian Cricket League roster. Martyn, a stylish middle order batsman is going to be the first Australian to join the rebel league that has started to make serious damage to not only Indian Cricket but also World Cricket. Martyn had first rejected the offer from the ICL a few days back but now that the league is starting to take shape, the Australian felt that it was too good a financial offer to be ignored. The ICL is still hoping to get a few more Australians like Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Justin Langer on their list.
Damien Martyn had ended his international career abruptly during the middle of Australia’s successful Ashes Series. The 35-year-old had announced his retirement from all forms of the game just before the third Ashes Test in December last year. Marto figured in 67 Tests and 208 ODIs in an international career that spanned nearly fifteen years. Martyn now joins a list of players who have or on the verge of their retirement such as Brian Lara, Inzamam-ul-Haq and others. Speculations are that some of the current West Indian players are going to be the next target for the ICL. It is not difficult to convince West Indian players as they have been having constant problems with their board about financial and selection matters to name a few. Big names like Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan are already making news.
The biggest sufferer from the ICL has been Pakistan as they lost their best batsman Mohammad Yousuf. The Pakistan Cricket Board like the Indian Cricket Board, BCCI had warned that players joining the ICL are going to face life bans. Efforts are being made on the part of the PCB to get Yousuf out of the ICL by offering him an improved package. Yousuf had a prolific season last year as he surpassed Viv Richards’ record of scoring the most runs in a calender year along with smashing nine test hundreds! The ICL is all set up to launch its first ever tournament which will be a Twenty20 one that is going to be held in October. The International Cricket Council had already stated that it would not be giving any official status for the ICL League. The players who have or are going to sign up seemed to have put the financial rewards ahead of playing for their respective nations. For players like Damien Martyn who have officially retired from International Cricket, it is a welcome bonus to earn handsome bucks.