Mumbai Indians set to offer England pacer Jofra Archer a year-round contract worth millions to secure his services- Reports

Jofra Archer (Source: Twitter)

Indian Premier League franchise Mumbai Indians are set to offer England pacer Jofra Archer a unique year-round multi-million pound deal that would require the England Cricket Board (ECB) to obtain permission from the IPL franchise to select him for England duty.

Viewing Archer as crucial to their future plans in the IPL, the Mumbai Indians signed him up on an £800,000 contract ahead of last season's auction despite him being sidelined due to injury. As such, Archer's injury troubles in this year's edition of the tournament has left the five-time IPL champions frustrated, which is why it is understood that they want more control over his schedule.

Archer left the IPL, earlier, this week for treatment on an elbow injury with a view to regaining full fitness ahead of the upcoming Ashes series in England and the ODI World Cup, later, in the year in India.

Archer is yet to hold talks with Mumbai regarding this contract. However, he is not the only England player understood to have been targeted for similar 12-month deals. Alex Hales, who pulled out of this year’s IPL despite being signed by the Kolkata Knight Riders, has also been approached with an annual contract, something that IPL franchises hope to introduce ahead of the next IPL mega-auction in 2025.

Mumbai Indians’ owners Reliance Industries, who also control T20 teams in South Africa, UAE, and Major League Cricket in the USA, are said to be exploring recruiting an elite roster of full-time players wherein they would require permission to play for their country if there was a clash with franchise commitments.