Warne confirms interest in Indian league

Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath farewelled Test cricket together but they could be reunited in the Indian Cricket League © Getty Images Enlarge

Shane Warne will join Brian Lara in the Indian Cricket League if his conditions are met, however Warne's manager conceded that such an agreement was still a long way off. Glenn McGrath has not ruled out his involvement and his manager said negotiations could progress in the next week.

The ICL on Monday announced Lara as its first big signing, two months after his name was initially linked with the group. Warne's manager James Erskine said he had been in talks with ICL officials including Tony Greig.

"They haven't offered what we have asked for, so negotiations are proceeding," Erskine told the Australian. "Provided the terms and conditions are right, Shane Warne will play, but it's a long way off before we get the contract signed." The paper reported that Warne's proposed pay package was worth up to $2 million.

McGrath's manager, Warren Craig, said he had met with ICL officials some time ago and although there had been few developments since then, this week's events were likely to speed the process up. "We certainly haven't ruled it out," Craig said.

"Now Lara has signed, things might start to hot up a bit. Things could start to move over the next week or so." However, Craig said the ICL had given no indication what salary it would offer to lure McGrath out of retirement six months after his final ODI appearance. The league wants to run its first Twenty20 tournament this October and November with six teams, each of which would ideally feature four international players and two Indian stars, with the rest made up of younger players.