| Player: | BB McCullum, A Symonds |
DateLine: 23rd January 2009
New South Wales have branded all-rounder Andrew Symonds a 'hypocrite' for labelling the team's decision to recruit New Zealand wicket keeper batsman Brendon McCullum for the Twenty20 final against Victoria as un-Australian. Symonds claimed that NSW did the wrong thing in hiring McCullum in place of a homegrown player for tomorrow's Twenty20 final.
Former Australia pacer and NSW chief executive Dave Gilbert said the Blues were within their rights to sign McCullum. "I think it's a little hypocritical of Andrew Symonds," Gilbert fumed.
"After all, he's happy to sign with the Deccan Chargers and deprive some local of a spot in their side. He can't have his cake and eat it too. If this final was in isolation we wouldn't have brought McCullum over, but the Champions League has put everything into a different stratosphere.
"There is so much at stake and they are talking around USD 4 million for the winner," said Gilbert.
NSW coach Matthew Mott, assistant coach of Kolkata Knight Riders to whom McCullum in contracted, said it was only fair that the team was recruiting overseas stars in their chase for Champions League glory.
"The Indian teams (in the IPL) are allowed up to four international players, so surely we're entitled to a marquee player who will put bums on seats and can win matches," Mott was quoted as saying in the Courier Mail.
"We're desperate to win the final and, in terms of the Champions League, Brendon had to have played in the competition this season to qualify for us in the Champions League," he said.
