Sydney, Aug 16 : Chairman of selectors for the Australian Cricket Team, John Inverarity has warned Australia''s Big Bash League (BBL) franchises from signing sprint sensations Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake for the domestic T20 tournament this summer.
Blake had reportedly been approached to play in the BBL, days after Bolt revealed Shane Warne had asked him to play in the T20 tournament.
Inverarity, who announced Australia''s 15-man squad for next month''s T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, did not welcome the idea.
“T20 cricket is very much entertainment, it''s a very heavy focus on just being entertainment, so he (Bolt) would certainly be a drawcard. I''d be hesitant to run two if you hit one just wide to him on the boundary. I can imagine he''d throw very well too,” the Herald Sun quoted Inverarity, as saying.
“But I think we''ve got to be careful it just doesn''t become a novelty event,” he added.
If Bolt and Blake are allowed to play in the tournament, a potential ‘dream showdown’ can be expected between the world''s two fastest men on the cricket fields of Australia this summer.
After winning a gold and two silver medals at the London Olympics, Blake had described himself as a ‘talented batsman’ and claimed that he is “better at cricket than running”.
“Cricket, that''s my love, that''s my passion. When I was growing up I watched cricket with my father. I have grown up to love the sport even more than track and field,” he had said.
© ANI
