IPL 2019: England uncapped pacer Pat Brown changes his mind, registers for auction

Getting a lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) deal is perhaps the topmost priority for majority of cricketers nowadays. Two months of slogging in Indian summer is more than enough to make the player a millionaire. Not only that, the players also get the experience of playing in front of huge crowds and get an opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the best cricketers in the world.

England skipper Joe Root is an example. Such was his desperation to land an IPL deal that he had skipped the Trans-Tasman tri-series earlier this series in order to keep himself fresh. But unfortunately, he went unsold. However, England’s Pat Brown had raised several eyebrows after he decided not to register himself for the auction. The highly-rated pacer hogged the limelight after an outstanding breakthrough season in the T20 Blast by helping Worcestershire to their first title.

Brown took the competition by storm. He finished the Blast season with 31 wickets which is the second-best figures for a bowler in the competition. The record is held by Alfonso Thomas for his 33 wickets way back in 2010. However, he sprung a huge surprise by insisting that he would keep himself away from IPL for studies.

“I have tried to distance myself from [talk of IPL deals etc]. I am finishing uni this year and so I have taken myself away from cricket and will then get ready to go again and crack on after Christmas. If there is an opportunity to go away to the IPL, to Bangladesh, to the Pakistan Super League and it fits in with my uni then I’ll definitely do it but before Christmas, I’ll be preparing for life after cricket,” he had said as quoted by Sky Sports.

Well, the business-management student seems to have changed his mind as he has registered himself for the upcoming IPL auction. He has been shortlisted for the auction at a base price of INR 40 lakhs.

Auction to be held in Jaipur

A total of 1003 players had registered themselves for the 70 spots available in the 8 teams. The BCCI, however, pruned the list and released a list of 346 shortlisted players. The auction for the 12th edition of IPL will take place on December 18 in Jaipur.

~ Written by Bijoy

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