Gilchrist expects to receive IPL all-clear

Cricket Australia is likely to allow Adam Gilchrist to play in the IPL despite an agreement between organisers and boards forbidding players to join until two years after their international career is over. While the move could set a precedent for others who may be lured to the league by the cash, the argument is that the cooling off period is designed to stop young players quitting early for a long career in the Twenty20 competition.

Gilchrist is 36 and will retire from internationals in March, but is still contracted to Cricket Australia. CA is keen to use him as a coach and in promotions, but again this isn't seen as an obstacle because the IPL lasts for only two months.

Gilchrist did not foresee any problems with the deal. "The IPL is moving quickly and we're just trying to get a gauge on what the restrictions are," Gilchrist told Sportal. "As far as I know at the moment, Cricket Australia haven't given me any indication they wouldn't want me to part of that, but I'm not 100% sure. We're just trying to confirm that."

Lalit Modi has said no player could retire early to sign an IPL deal without permission from his national board.

Gilchrist will meet with CA's chief executive James Sutherland soon to discuss the options. The board may not be so lenient in other instances, as it is understood to be considering using its powers of veto for contracted players.

Before the IPL begins, however, there is the small matter of the CB Series to complete and Gilchrist is not concerned about Australia's fielding of late. "As long as cricket's played there are going to be dropped catches," he said. "Sometimes they come in little patches, little clumps, and at other times you go through many, many games without dropping one and no-one writes a story about how great the catching's been. All we can do is keep working hard at training and make sure we're as sharp as possible come game day."