England players get IPL go-ahead

England stars such as Kevin Pietersen and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff will be able to play in the Indian Premier League after signing their national central contracts on Thursday.

Talks between England's players and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on the signing of the annual deals had stalled over how long they would be allowed to play in the IPL, a cash-rich Twenty20 tournament bankrolled by the wealthy owners of franchise teams.

England all-rounder Paul Collingwood was quoted as saying Thursday by the BBC: "They (the contracts) have been signed by the players and we are waiting on the IPL to come back with confirmation."

The ECB had said it would only allow players to compete in the competition for two weeks - a period which IPL chief Lalit Modi said was too short to be of use on or off the field to the competing teams.

But now the ECB have agreed their Test players can play in the IPL for a three-week period beginning in April, soon after the conclusion of the current West Indies tour which formally started Thursday.

Modi told Sky Sports News: "We need to figure out very quickly if the English players can be part of it.

"Of course we would like them to be part of it."

However, the new deal means England players selected for IPL duty will go into the first Test against the West Indies at Lord's on May 7 without recent first-class match practice as the preceding round of County Championship matches ends on May 1 and May 2.

But England captain Andrew Strauss, speaking before England flew to the Caribbean, said appearing in a Championship fixture was not the only way to get ready for a Test.

"Players have to be fully prepared for a Test match," he said. "What that preparation is depends on the player to a certain extent," the left-handed opening batsman added.

"I believe the players who will be involved in the IPL are experienced campaigners. They didn't just turn up yesterday. They know what Test cricket is about and know what preparation they need."

The February 4 deadline for players making themselves available for the IPL is the same day as the first day of the opening Test between the West Indies and England in Jamaica.