David Warner seeks permission to skip Australia’s Big Bash League to play in UAE T20 League

Australian cricket is at a crossroad with David Warner requesting to play in the UAE T20 league this January at the height of the traditional summer.

David Warner of Australia looks on during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup match between Australia and England at Dubai International Stadium last year. Picture: Getty Images

Adam Gilchrist believes it will be “almost commercial suicide” for Cricket Australia to allow David Warner to play in the UAE this January.

The Australian revealed Wednesday the highly valued opener is looking to use the break in the international schedule caused by the cancellation of the South African tour to play in the UAE T20 league.

Cricket Australia had hoped its international cricketers would make themselves available for its domestic competition but Warner is not contracted to a team and has not played in the BBL for a decade.

Gilchrist says it is a line in the sand for Cricket Australia in the battle between club and country.

“Cricket Australia really have to be careful here, I think it is almost commercial suicide for them to allow a player like him to go head to head up against their own competition,” the former wicket keeper told Gerard Whately on SEN after the story broke.

“They can’t force David Warner to play the BBL, I understand that, but to let him then go off, or another player, let’s not just single out Warner because there will be other players on the radar.

“It’s all part of this global dominance these IPL franchises are starting to create given they own a number of teams in the Caribbean Premier League, they own all six teams in the new South African tournament that is coming up, which will lock horns for commercial time and space with the Big Bash.”

Gilchrist said Warner had the right to choose.

“We can’t question David Warner’s commitment to Australian cricket over the years, so it will be a more challenging situation,” he said.

“If he rides off into the sunset and says ‘sorry Cricket Australia I’m just going to be a gun for hire for my Indian franchise team in various franchise tournaments’ you can’t question him on that, that’s his prerogative and he has done everything he needs to get that profile and market value.

“It’s the new younger player that starts to make those noises where it will be really challenging perhaps. “

David Warner poses with his Player of the Tournament trophy at the 2021 T20 World Cup. Picture: AFP

Gilchrist also believes the time is approaching where players will have a club contract but freelance for their country.

“The first example (could be) where David Warner doesn’t sign a contract with Cricket Australia at all, he just plays for a match fee,” he said.

“He goes where he wants but says I’m available for every Test match, for every ODI for every T20 international. I’ll be there for you in national colours but other than that I’m going to play for my club, my franchise cricket whenever I want to knowing that none of those big tournaments will be clashing with international cricket.

“That might be an opportunity to explore.

“It’s a tough one.”

“It’s getting a little bit dangerous the grip it (IPL) is having to monopolise that ownership of the players and their talents and where they can and can’t play.

“Maybe it is the first step in the direction.”

David Warner goes on the attack against Sri Lanka during the T20 World Cup in Dubai in 2021. Picture: Getty Images

It is understood Warner has commenced high level negotiations to play in the UAE T20 league this January.

A decision may be made by the end of the week as the tournament is pressing players to sign preliminary contracts.

Contracted players must receive a No Objection Certificate to participate in domestic franchise competitions overseas.

The UAE league, which has heavy investment from IPL franchises, is understood to be offering three-year contracts worth $700,000 a year for participation in the new competition. The left-hander would make a fraction of that in the BBL and would not be able to captain a franchise because he has a lifetime ban, but his leadership skills are respected overseas.

Warner led Hyderabad to their maiden title in 2016 and was highest run scorer in 2015, 2017 and 2019.

He was also player of the tournament for Australia in its successful 2021 T20 World Cup campaign.

Warner is one of the highest profile T20 cricketers in the world, but has rarely played BBL, does not have a contract with any BBL club and has no duties with the national or state teams in January after South Africa cancelled its ODI matches to avoid a clash with its own T20 league expected to begin around the same time.

Warner’s Delhi Capitals owns a side in the UAE league and like the other Indian-owned franchises has been given permission to draft four of its contracted players.

As he does not have a BBL contract it is hard to see how there can be any objection to him playing in the UAE, but it is a blow to the organisers of the BBL who are trying desperately to attract big names to the embattled tournament.

His move may fast forward tying BBL availability to national contracts – a move which could force players close to the end of their careers to make an early call on the future.

The BBL is in competition with the UAE and South African tournaments which are both shorter than the lengthy Australian competition, which was once a high priority for overseas cricketers but has slipped in standing.

The tournament is offering a select band of overseas players a $340,000 contract if they enter a new four-tiered draft system, but expectations are that those cricketers will leave the tournament early to join the UAE or South African leagues.

Cricket’s executives are meeting this week to sign off on a Future Tours Program which is expected to give a 10-week clear window to the IPL for all players, while Australia and England will not schedule international cricket for a month to protect their two local competitions, the BBL and the Hundred.

South Africa’s decision to abandon the ODIs in January stunned world cricket because it means the country will miss automatic entry in the 2023 World Cup in India.

That development was soon followed by Ben Stokes’ announcement that he too was turning his back on the tournament. The star of England’s 2019 victory said three formats was too much cricket and he would no longer play the one-day game.