(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Pat Cummins, Travis Head Reportedly Reject $10 Million IPL Franchise Offers to Skip Australia Duty
October 8, 2025
SYDNEY: Australian cricket stars Pat Cummins and Travis Head have reportedly turned down multi-million-dollar offers from an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise group that sought to lure them away from national commitments in favor of a global T20 cricket network.
According to a report by The Sydney Morning Herald, both players were offered around $10 million each to join a franchise-based setup spanning leagues in India, the UAE, the USA, and the Caribbean — part of a growing international T20 empire led by IPL team owners.
IPL Groups Expanding Global Influence
Over the past few years, IPL franchises have expanded beyond India by acquiring stakes in several global tournaments such as SA20 (South Africa), ILT20 (UAE), Major League Cricket (USA), Caribbean Premier League (CPL), and The Hundred (UK). These leagues now offer cricketers multi-million-dollar deals, often exceeding what they earn through national contracts.
Top Australian players typically earn around AUD 1.5 million from Cricket Australia (CA) each year, while Cummins — as national captain — pockets nearly AUD 3 million, plus $3.7 million from his IPL deal with Sunrisers Hyderabad. Travis Head, who also plays for Hyderabad, earns roughly $1.2 million from the same franchise.
Players Prioritize National Duty
Despite the lucrative offers, both Cummins and Head remain committed to representing Australia in all formats.
Travis Head said he briefly joined the Major League Cricket (MLC) in the US earlier this year to experience franchise cricket firsthand, but made it clear he had no plans to give up international cricket.
“I played MLC to get a taste of franchise cricket,” Head explained. “I wanted to understand what it’s like to play four months straight — IPL, World Cup, MLC — and see how different systems work. But right now, my focus is on playing for Australia.”
The 31-year-old added that while franchise cricket offers exciting opportunities, national duty remains his top priority.
“It was the perfect time in my career to explore that experience. But at this point, I’m fully focused on representing Australia — I don’t see a timeline where I’d choose anything else,” he said.
Franchise vs. Country Debate Grows
As global franchise cricket continues to expand, more players are being faced with the club vs. country dilemma. However, Cummins and Head’s decision to stay loyal to Australia highlights the enduring prestige of international cricket — even in an era dominated by big-money T20 leagues.
