David Warner's wife hits back at reporter over $2.1m cricket drama
Candice Warner has hit back at a leading journalist who said husband David should retire from international cricket if he wants to play in the UAE T20 league instead of the BBL.
David Warner has reportedly requested a release from Cricket Australia to play in the new T20 league in the UAE this summer.
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The United Arab Emirates T20 league will run in direct competition to Australia's Big Bash League from January 6 to February 12 next year.
On Wednesday it emerged that Warner is set to snub the BBL and wants to play in the UAE instead.
The swashbuckling Aussie opener hasn't played in the BBL since 2013, with wife Candice revealing last year that her husband is unlikely to ever play in his local competition again due to a lifetime leadership ban imposed by Cricket Australia.
Warner is banned from holding a leadership position at any level of Australian cricket for his role in the 2018 ball-tampering scandal in 2018.
Candice also said the extended length of the BBL makes shorter overseas leagues more attractive to Warner as it means he can spend more time with his young family.
On Wednesday, cricket reporter Daniel Brettig said Warner should retire from international duties if he asks Cricket Australia for a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) in order to play in the UAE league.
“Pretty simple for Warner. If he genuinely wants to play in new UAE league in peak Aust summer in January then he needs to retire from international cricket," Brettig wrote on Twitter.
"CA would be making an extraordinary and unprecedented concession to give him an NOC unless he does that first."
Candice hit back at Brettig, writing: “Do you genuinely believe this? You’re having a laugh.”
Brettig then replied: “It’s not a case of what I believe. It’s more about how the NOC system works so that international cricket isn’t consumed by privately owned T20 leagues and clubs.”
Do you genuinely believe this? You’re having a laugh.
— Candice Warner (@CandiceWarner31) July 27, 2022
It's not a case of what I believe. It's more about how the NOC system works so that international cricket isn't consumed by privately owned T20 leagues and clubs
— Daniel Brettig 🏏 (@danbrettig) July 27, 2022
David Warner move could change cricket globally
Addressing the situation on Wednesday, Aussie legend Adam Gilchrist said Warner's decision could open up a huge can of worms for world cricket.
"I think it would almost be commercial suicide for them (Cricket Australia) to allow a player like him (Warner) to go head-to-head up against their own competition," Gilchrist told SEN radio.
"They can't force David Warner to play in the BBL, I understand that, but to let him then go off ... it's all part of this global dominance that these IPL franchises are starting to create given they own a number of teams in the Caribbean Premier League as well."
The UAE league is backed by the BCCI in India, with a number of teams owned by IPL franchises - the Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals.
IPL franchises also own the six teams competing in a new South African T20 league that will also run in direct competition to the BBL this summer.
"It's getting a little bit dangerous the grip that it's having to monopolise that ownership and the ownership of the players and their talents and where they can and can't play," Gilchrist said.
"If (Warner) rides off into the sunset and says, 'sorry Australian cricket, I'm going to become a gun for hire for my Indian franchise team in various tournaments', you can't question him on that, that's his prerogative and he's done everything he needs to get the profile and get that market value.
"It's the new younger player coming in that starts to make those noises where it'll be really challenging.
"Perhaps it's the first example where David Warner doesn't sign a contract with Cricket Australia at all, he just plays for a match fee.
"He goes and plays whatever he wants but says, 'I'm available for every Test match, for every one-day international and every T20 international', by way of example, I'll be there for you in national colours.
"But other than that, I'm going to play my club, my franchise cricket, wherever I want to knowing that none of those big tournaments will be clashing with international cricket."
The UAE league is reportedly offering three-year contracts worth $2.1 million for players to join.
with AAP
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