In fact this has been a common battleground between players and administrators over many decades.u00a0The reason for these battles has varied over the years but until recently the end result generally saw the administrators triumph. Since the advent of Indian Premier League the odds have swung wildly in favour of the player. At least now when a player loses a battle with his local administration he has the consolation of knowing he can still ply his trade — at a lucrative rate — in the IPL.

Kevin Pietersen during the Leeds Test against South Africa on August 4, Pic/Getty Images