Mumbai Indians are reportedly making plans to secure the services of Jofra Archer on an extended-term basis by offering him a 1 year-round contract. The England fast bowler, who first joined MI in the 2022 IPL mega-auction, may also represent more than one MI-owned franchise across different leagues if he accepts the offer. However, England would require the franchise’s permission for Archer to participate in international cricket.
According to a report from England, MI is ready to offer Archer a lucrative multi-million-pound contract. This proposed agreement would see Archer being associated with the Mumbai-based franchise in the course of the 1 year. If such a contract is signed, Archer would require MI’s consent for England to select him for international matches
At present, Archer has returned to England before completing his ongoing IPL stint due to an elbow issue. While he has since recovered from the injury, Archer has travelled back to his home country for rehabilitation ahead of the upcoming Ashes series. Considerably, the proficient right-arm pacer has been limited in his cricketing appearances over the past two years, having played only eleven matches since his comeback in SA20 in advance this year.
Mumbai Indians bought Archer for INR 8 crores in IPL 2022 Auction
Archer’s affiliation with MI began once they acquired him for INR 8 crore in the IPL 2022 auction. Regardless of being aware of Archer’s unavailability for IPL 2022, the franchise invested considerably in acquiring his services. However, Archer’s participation in IPL 2023 became cut short, with the pacer featuring in just five matches before returning home.
It’s far crucial to observe that no official confirmation has been provided regarding the potential year-round agreement between Archer and MI. The MI family includes 5 franchises, and Archer may also represent all 4 leagues if he signs a full-time deal with the Mumbai Indians.
In a related development, it’s been stated that MI is also thinking about offering Alex Hales a comparable 12 months-long contract. Hales made his international cricket comeback at some point in the 2022 T20 World Cup. The franchise’s interest in Hales highlights their purpose to build a strong and bold squad across various leagues.
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