Warne and Lara linked to breakaway Twenty20 league

Lara and Warne: India bound? © Getty Images Enlarge

Brian Lara, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and "more big names to follow" are being linked to a breakaway Twenty20 competition taking place in India this October, according to the latest issue of Spin magazine. There is expected to be a formal announcement on the same on May 14.

Both McGrath, the former Australia fast bowler and Lara, West Indies' former captain, announced their retirement from cricket after last month's World Cup. Warne retired from international cricket earlier this year following Australia's 5-0 trouncing of England in the Ashes, but it appears the trio's playing days are not quite finished.

The series, called the Indian Cricket League (ICL) was announced in April by Subhash Chandra, who heads Essel Group - the owners of Zee TV who will broadcast the tournament, though it is only now that names as high-profile (and retired) as Warne are being mentioned. Equally, confirmation of the players' involvement has yet to be made from their respective agents.

The tournament is rumoured to take place mere weeks after the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship in September, held in South Africa.