Broad sets sights on IPL contract

Stuart Broad is among several England players considering playing in the third season of the IPL, the Daily Telegraph has reported. Broad turned down the chance to play in the 2009 season, choosing instead to focus on the Ashes, but his agent is reported to have been in touch with IPL commissioner Lalit Modi.

"We have had contact from Craig [Sackfield, Broad's agent] and all players now have to write to me directly and arrange NOCs from their boards by December 31," Modi said. "Then we will fix a minimum bid price and circulate their names to the franchises."

Modi said a lot of the slots had been taken but teams would probably be able to hire one or two players and there was a good chance of a lot of England players being involved. "The England players in Bangladesh will miss the first 10 days but the Australians and New Zealanders are unavailable until much later so that's not a problem," he said.

Sackfield, who also manages Luke Wright and James Anderson, confirmed he was looking to secure contracts for all of them. "I have made initial contact as regards to all of my players ... We just want to see what the situation is and what they have to do," he said.

Broad, speaking in Cape Town on Wednesday, confirmed his interest in playing in the league. "The IPL is something I'd like to play in at some stage, " he said. "Whether I do it this year, I'm not sure. I've not given it too much thought."

The IPL has capped bid prices at US $750,000 for 2010 contracts and Broad's price could be hiked by a bidding war depending on the number of franchises interested in his services.