Nottinghamshire have prevented their players from competing at the Indian Premier League despite some of their England stars expressing a desire to play in the cash-rich tournament.
England internationals Alex Hales, Michael Lumb – the former Hampshire batsman - and Samit Patel are all reported targets for IPL franchises ahead of the new season on April 3.
That is, however, just seven days before Nottinghamshire begin their LV= County Championship campaign and director of cricket Mick Newell has told his players they must be available for domestic duty.
"We were very clear that we expected all of our players to be available to us as we would be severely weakened if we were to lose them for that period of time at that stage of the season," Newell said in a statement.
"The players asked me to consider releasing them to enable them to take part in the IPL but they are key members of the squad and I explained that we wouldn't be able to allow them to take part."
Newell said that Nottinghamshire's other England players, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann, would be allowed to nominate for the IPL because their central contacts are governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
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