Cummins had wanted the security of a long-term deal so he would not be financially impacted should he miss the world's premier Twenty20 tournament through injury - as was the case this year - or if he felt it best to rest and keep himself fit for international duty. How best to handle this potentially fractious debate, particularly with the bowlers, now falls with CA executive Belinda Clark, who has taken on the interim role as high-performance chief. "There was planning taking place over how the bowlers would be used over the six to eight months (next year). That needs to be revisited with Belinda in the role," Maxwell said. "We were talking longer-term deals in the event of foregoing the IPL." Indian captain Virat Kohli reportedly has asked the IPL franchises to rest his fast bowlers ahead of the World Cup for fear they could break down.

Cummins missed the IPL last year through injury. Credit:AAP "India will pay them not to play. That's what we were trying to work with Pat - put a few dollars aside, it doesn't have to be anything near what they were going to get, but give them some reason not to go," Maxwell said. A CA spokesman said it was too early to comment but the issue would fall in Clark's domain. As Steve Smith and David Warner were suspended when CA contracts were completed this year, fast bowler Cummins - having enjoyed a superb year after a long battle with injury - was rated Australia's No.1 player by the national selectors and Howard. However, he missed the IPL this year, where he was bought for $1.05 million by the Mumbai Indians, because of a back injury sustained during the Test series in South Africa. Fellow fast bowler Mitchell Starc had been drafted by the Kolkata Knight Riders for $1.8 million but also had to largely forego these riches because of injury. Josh Hazlewood, the new Test vice-captain, opted not to play but could have pocketed about $400,000 had he chosen to.

One option is a compromise between the players and CA, perhaps allowing the players to compete in part of a tournament, which could be shifted to South Africa or the United Arab Emirates because of India's general elections. The IPL's formal activities start on Thursday when the eight franchises release the lists of the players they want to retain. Those players not retained, or fresh faces, can then go in an auction on December 17 and 18, although this will be smaller than last summer's mega auction. Loading Next year's tournament, intriguingly, will begin at about the same time or potentially even on the same date (March 29) as the year-long suspensions of Smith and Warner expire. They had been retained by their franchises this year, Smith for $2.4 million with Rajasthan Royals and Warner for $2.4 million with Sunrisers Hyderabad, but were stripped of their contracts in wake of the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa. Having lost millions of dollars in their year off from international cricket, they most likely will be eager to return to the IPL - should they be wanted.

Another issue for CA will be batsman Chris Lynn, who has a long-term troublesome shoulder, preventing him from diving in the field. If the national selectors believe he will part of the World Cup campaign, they will be nervous watching him return to the IPL. Lynn pocketed $1.86 million this year from the Knight Riders. CA has the power to deny players from taking part in the IPL through the use of a no-objection certificate. But, at a time when relations between the Australian Cricketers Association and headquarters remains strained, although thawing, such a move would be dangerous.