Ashwin announced his retirement from IPL earlier in August. © BCCI/IPL R Ashwin, fresh from retirement from all forms of the game, including the Indian Premier League (IPL), has evinced interest in International League T20 (ILT20) and in all likelihood will register for the auction. If all goes fine, he will feature in the next season of the UAE league, which will run from December 2 to January 4 next year. Cricbuzz understands that the ILT20 organisers are in discussions with the ace spinner, and his name may appear on the auction list once the enrolment formalities are completed. The registration process is currently underway, with September 10 as the last date for enrolment in the auction. “Yes, I am in talks with the organisers. Hopefully, I will have a buyer if I register for the auction” Ashwin told Cricbuzz, confirming his interest. The league used to follow a draft system for recruiting players, but the organisers have introduced the auction system this year. The auction is scheduled to take place on September 30 in Dubai. Should Ashwin be picked in the auction, he would become the biggest name from Indian cricket to feature in the UAE league, now in its fourth season. Robin Uthappa and Yusuf Pathan have previously been picked but yet to debut, while Ambati Rayudu is the only other Indian to have featured in the competition when he played eight games for MI Emirates. It is likely that Ashwin has had some assurances from teams before he decided on participating in the league. A veteran of 282 international games across formats, Ashwin is one of the biggest match-winners and has been a regular in the IPL since season 2 in 2009. The 38-year-old all-rounder represented five different franchises in the IPL – Chennai Super Kings, Rising Pune Supergiants, Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals – in 221 games. Besides, he played for his Tamil Nadu state team and his TNPL sides in T20 cricket. He also featured in 65 Twenty20 Internationals. As previously reported by this website, Ashwin is eyeing a player-cum-coach role in international leagues, and it is almost certain that he will feature in Major League Cricket (MLC) in the US and The Hundred in England next year. Top internationals like Alex Hales, Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, Sherfane Rutherford and Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Sam Curran, Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Mustafizur Rahman, Rovman Powell, Shai Hope, Azmatullah Omarzai, Moeen Ali, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Chris Woakes, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kusal Perera, Romario Shepherd, Adil Rashid, Kusal Mendis, Tim Southee, Maheesh Theekshana, Sikandar Raza and Tim David have already been recruited by different sides. MI Emirates, Gulf Giants, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Sharjah Warriorz, Dubai Capitals and Desert Vipers are the competing franchises of the league. Dubai Capitals are the reigning champions.
