London, September 14: Paul Collingwood is expected to fly to India next month to link up with the Delhi Daredevils for the Champions League, despite recent reports that he had been seeking a release from his contract following a gruelling season in which he has been an integral member of England’s team in all three formats of the international game.
Collingwood was last week given permission by the ECB to sit out three games of the current seven-match ODI series against Australia – the first England matches he has missed since the tour of the Caribbean in February. But his IPL employees have not been as lenient. Despite claims from one of his representatives that he looked “knackered” and in need of a lengthy break, the small-print of Collingwood’s Delhi contract required him to take part in the Champions League in the event of the team’s qualification.
“We have been in touch with Collingwood and the response we have got from him is that he is very keen to play in the Champions League,” Amrit Mathur, the chief operating officer of the team, told Cricinfo. “Collingwood has confirmed that he will play and he is part of our 15-member squad for the tournament.”
Mathur said he was aware of media reports that have suggested that Collingwood was not keen to play but added that as far as the team was concerned, there was no substance to such claims. The ECB reiterated that Collingwood has a contract with Delhi and therefore the issue was out of the board’s hands.
Nevertheless, a report in The Sun last week quoted a representative as saying: “Paul is very tired, he has had a long, hard year. Frankly, he looks knackered and we’re still hoping Delhi will relent. It would be counter-productive for them to have a player who is so obviously in need of a rest.”
The source added that the prize money that Collingwood stands to win is of less importance than a chance to rest up, which is ironic, seeing as Collingwood did not even take an active part in Delhi’s IPL campaign this season, having linked up with the squad for a two-week window in April ahead of England’s home Test series against West Indies.
Andrew Strauss, England’s captain, also added that fatigue was an issue as the end of a hectic season drew near. “He’s got a number of niggles that could become concerns if he kept playing,” he told reporters after Australia wrapped up the series at Lord’s on Saturday. “It’s not an ideal situation, but I agree he was looking a bit exhausted which is why he has been pulled out.”
England finish their ODI series against Australia at Chester-le-Street (Collingwood’s home ground) on September 20, then fly to South Africa the following day for the Champions Trophy. That ends on October 5, with the Champions League commencing three days later, and continuing right up until England set off for their winter tour of South Africa on October 30.
—–Agencies