Indian cricket great Ravichandran Ashwin is in the mix to join the Big Bash League this summer, with Melbourne already mooted as a potential home.
The 38-year-old spinner farewelled the Indian Premier League last week and immediately opened the door to a career in the various T20 leagues around the world.
Indian cricketers are largely blocked from participating in competitions other than the IPL while under contract with the BCCI.
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“They say every ending will have a new start,” Ashwin announced last week.
“My time as an IPL cricketer comes to a close today but my time as an explorer of the game around various leagues begins today.”
Ashwin, who retired from international cricket midway through last summer’s Test tour of Australia, wasted little time getting on the hunt — and Cricket Australia, too, were quickly on the phone.
Channel 7 cricket contributor Bharat Sundaresan has revealed Ashwin and CA boss Todd Greenberg began talking “as soon as he’d announced his IPL retirement”.
Greenberg issued a positive statement that suggested high confidence in getting a deal done.
“To get someone with Ashwin’s credentials to come over here for the BBL will be great at so many levels,” Greenberg told Cricbuzz.
“He’s a champion cricketer who will bring a lot to the Big Bash and to our cricket summer.”
There is as yet no clarity on what a stint could look like, with questions remaining over where Ashwin could land, how many appearances he could make or even how — and how much — he could be paid.
But Sundaresan reported “some sources do believe” Ashwin could be headed to one of the Melbourne franchises.
The Stars, who play at the MCG, are more in need of a spinner after Adam Zampa crossed to the Renegades last year.
A two-time IPL champion, he spent most of his career with the Chennai Super Kings but also played for Rising Pune Supergiants, Kings XI Punjab, Delhi Capitals and the Rajasthan Royals.
Ashwin would be arguably the biggest international name in the Big Bash this summer.
Pakistan star Shaheen Shah Afridi will make his BBL debut with the Brisbane Heat after being taken with the No.1 pick in the draft.
Mohammad Rizwan, Hasan Ali, Babar Azam and Haris Rauf are also among the Pakistan contingent, while Sam Billings, Sam Curran, Tom Curra, Jamie Overton and Chris Jordan are some of the English cohort.
The Big Bash season gets underway on December 14, live and free on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport.
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