IPL will go ahead without Australians if CA doesn't budge - Modi

Lalit Modi, the chairman and commissioner of the Indian Premier League (IPL), says the Australian players may have to miss the tournament if Cricket Australia (CA) doesn't soften its stance on sponsor promotion. The Australian board has expressed concerns over its contract holders endorsing products that clash with its own supporters.

However, Modi was defiant on the issue and said CA was putting the lucrative contracts in store for its players at risk. "If they [CA] want to keep playing these games, they can keep their players and we will have the IPL without them," Modi told the Sydney Morning Herald. "I am being very clear about this.

"Cricket Australia wants global protection of its sponsors, we are not interested in that. That does not happen anywhere in cricket. The fact is, if Cricket Australia continues these demands they will cause their players to suffer."

Modi said individual player deals would not be affected, which has pleased Shane Warne, who hopes to promote the baldness company he works for. "We have no issue at all with personal sponsors of players, and there should be no confusion," Modi said. "The players can play and keep their sponsors, and get more personal sponsors throughout the tournament.

"If Foster's sponsors Cricket Australia, and a player goes to play for Hampshire, they can't get coverage in England. No organisation gives this non-competitive guarantee. It is up to [CA], they have been told our position and we will not move on this."

Warne will lead one of the franchises and his stint will delay his arrival at Hampshire, but he is confident other opportunities will grow from the tournament. "Some players may miss the start of the county season in England," Warne wrote in the Times. "That is a shame, but the benefits that could arise are huge.

"Who knows what other opportunities in business may crop up? For example, I would like to help to take Advanced Hair Studios into India and this may be a way in."

Peter Young, a CA spokesman, said there had been a misunderstanding. "We are very keen to talk to the BCCI to resolve a number of outstanding issues," he said. "We are extremely confident that all of these issues are capable of being resolved. As we have said all along, we are very, very keen to see the IPL succeed."