The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Friday said it will release its leading players, Sachin Tendulkar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh, for Cricket Australia's inaugural Twenty20 competition in 2009-2010.
BCCI vice-president Lalit Modi, who is also the commissioner of the Indian Premier League, said he is grateful that Cricket Australia co-operated when it came to organising the IPL and Champions League Twenty20 tournament, and it is now the turn of the BCCI to return the favour.
''We are keenly watching that (CA's Twenty20 league plans) and are most supportive of that. The Australian cricket board has been most supportive for the Indian cricket board,'' Modi was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun on Friday.
''They have already asked us if we would release our players for that and we said, yes, we would release our players for that. They have been gracious enough to release their players for us,'' he added.
However, Modi, who is also chairman of the Champions League, asserted that CA's Twenty20 competition might not be able to produce the same intensity as the IPL in its inaugural season.
''It may not be on the same scale as the IPL. It may not be eight, 10 or 12 teams, but it may be six teams in Australia.
''We understand they are looking at a franchise model, developing other models, too,'' Modi added.
He denied that the Cricket Australia would not get a share from the revenue generated from the IPL.
''It's a domestic tournament and you have got to understand Indian cricket never made money until three or four years ago,'' he conceded.
