Pat Cummins IPL contract under threat, Sheffield Shield Final 2020 scrapped

Pat Cummins’ record IPL payday is under threat following revelations Aussie cricket stars could be blocked from travelling.

Pat Cummins will decide soon if he will fly out or not.

There’s been chaos across the cricket world on Tuesday with revelations Aussie stars could be forced to give-up their rich Indian Premier League contracts in response to coronavirus restrictions across the world.

The news that stars, including Pat Cummins and Steve Smith, could be blocked by Cricket Australia from competing in the postponed 2020 IPL came after Cricket Australia on Tuesday morning confirmed the 2019-20 Sheffield Shield final has been scrapped and NSW declared champions.

Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts on Tuesday said players were individually contracted to their IPL franchises and had the power to make up their own minds — in consultation with Cricket Australia — to compete in the 2020 IPL or not.

However, The Australian reports Cricket Australia is reviewing whether it will permit Aussie players to participate in the IPL or The Hundred series in the UK.

According to the report, Cricket Australia routinely gives players No Objection Certificates to participate in the annual IPL, but that is now under review.

The IPL has already been delayed from March 29 to April 15 due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Now the global response to curb the spread of the virus could see stars, including Cummins, Smith, David Warner and Glenn Maxwell forced to give up their rich contracts.

Cummins in December set a record for as the highest paid overseas player in the history of the competition with a contract worth $3.2 million.

Glenn Maxwell also received a $2.2 million contract with Punjab.

Pat Cummins has a tough call to make.

Roberts said he expects players to be able to make the right call about their involvement in the IPL after further discussions with Cricket Australia.

“We can provide advice. We’re conscious of the fact that Australian players are individually contracted to the IPL and the time will certainly come very soon where players are going to be really interested and leaning on our perspective as their leader... to advise them in that regard,” he said.

“And then there will also be a perspective from the BCCI and their IPL division within that and together with our players and the BCCI I’m sure players will reach the best possible decisions in uncertain circumstances.”

The BCCI recently announced the tournament would be delayed after authorities in Delhi announced that they will not allow any sporting activity in the national capital due to the health crisis.

“The BCCI has decided to suspend IPL 2020 till 15 April 2020, as a precautionary measure against the ongoing Novel Corona Virus (Covid-10) situation,” the board said in a statement.

The BCCI said it was “taking all necessary steps to ensure that, all people related to IPL including fans have a safe cricketing experience.”

The IPL is estimated to generate more than $11 billion for the Indian economy and involves cricket’s top international stars from around the globe.

Chinese mobile-maker Vivo paid $330 million to be the league’s top sponsor for 2018-2022.

SHIELD FINAL CANCELLED, BLUES DECLARED WINNERS

The 2020 Sheffield Shield Final has officially been abandoned and NSW controversially declared champions.

Just days after the final round of the 2019-20 season was scrapped by Cricket Australia, it was first reported on Tuesday morning the final has also been abandoned as part of the sport’s response to coronavirus.

Cricket Australia confirmed the reports in a statement on Tuesday morning.

“The Marsh Sheffield Shield final has been cancelled and New South Wales declared champions after leading the competition through nine rounds,” Cricket Australia said in a statement.

“The decision follows Sunday’s announcement that the final round of the Marsh Sheffield Shield season had been cancelled in an effort to reduce travel.

“New South Wales won six, lost two and drew one of their matches this season for a total of 50.76 points. The next best team was Victoria with three wins, three losses and three draws for 38.53 points.”

Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts said in Melbourne on Tuesday the decision was forced by the “unprecedented times” that have surrounded the season.

“We’ve made the decision to cancel the Sheffield Shield final, which is really disappointing, but it’s the right thing to do in the circumstances,” Roberts said.

“And congratulations to NSW. That was the right decision in the circumstances.”

Cricket Australia was beaten to the punch to announce the news, with the Western Australia Cricket Association on Monday night announcing all the state associations had agreed to hand NSW the Shield.

Obviously not the ideal scenario for anyone at this time... But I am BLOODY PROUD of this @CricketNSWBlues #SheffieldShield win!!

Some seriously good cricket played all season 🙌🏽💙 #BendYaBacks https://t.co/woKBJ4hwZW

— Trent Copeland (@copes9) March 17, 2020

The controversial call saw the Blues awarded the Shield after finishing the season as runaway leaders with six outright wins from nine matches.

The Blues celebrate another wicket.

Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania all had mathematical hopes of earning a spot in the final — but their slim hopes of winning the Shield were dashed by Tuesday’s reports.

Victoria was controversially given a spot in the March 27 final after the final Shield round was called off.

The three matches were earlier called off by Cricket Australia in response to the spread of the global coronavirus pandemic.

It is the first abandoned Shield round since the tragic death of Phillip Hughes in November 2014, which saw matches stopped after the 26-Test batsman was struck while batting for South Australia at the SCG.

— with AAP