Smith has no concerns about auction outcome

David Smith has said that he is adopting a relaxed attitude to this week’s Indian Premier League auction.
Muhammad Azharullah is included, along with Steven Crook and Jackson Bird, in the IPL auction which starts on WednesdayMuhammad Azharullah is included, along with Steven Crook and Jackson Bird, in the IPL auction which starts on Wednesday
Muhammad Azharullah is included, along with Steven Crook and Jackson Bird, in the IPL auction which starts on Wednesday

Over 500 players are up for grabs in the auction which gets under way tomorrow (Wednesday), including the Northamptonshire duo of Steven Crook and Muhammad Azharullah as well as Australian Jackson Bird who is scheduled to become the club’s overseas player this season.

And while the club have accepted that they could be shorn of up to three key men for a sizable chunk of the campaign, chief executive Smith admits that he won’t be losing any sleep over the matter.

He said: “We’re supportive and always have been.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Of course, we’d rather our players were here and not playing in India and that mainly applies to Jackson.

“If he does come he’ll be an exceptional bowler in English conditions and we’ll be able to rest a lot easier on Friday morning when we know the outcome.

“Put simply, we can control the controllables but this isn’t one of those and we can’t do anything about what will occur.”

It has been stated in previous weeks that should Bird be picked up by one of the IPL franchises, the market will be scoured for an overseas replacement.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And any decisions to that end will be discussed on Friday when the club’s cricket committee gather to discuss any fallout.

Smith added: “It was always the plan to have a meeting on Friday and we’ll have to see where we are then.

“There might not be any decisions to be made and all three players will be here at the start of April but we’ll have to wait and see.”