Warne, Tendulkar plan T20 All Star league

Shane Warne and Sachin Tendulkar are reportedly recruiting players to an independent Twenty20 all-stars league of former international players with matches to be played around the world.

The plan, detailed by News Corp, is independent of the rebel Twenty20 league proposed by India's Essel Group and would see 15 matches over a four-year period, with players paid up to US$25,000 per match.

Cricket Australia and the International Cricket Council said they had no knowledge of the proposal, dubbed the Cricket All Stars League, but a CA spokesman suggested it could be a positive way to promote and grow the game in new or emerging markets - as long as it didn't poach contracted international players.

If Warne and Tendulkar's ambitions succeed, the first matches are believed to be scheduled for New York, Los Angeles and Chicago in September.

The two biggest names in cricket have approached a slew of retired greats including former Australians Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee, as well as England's Michael Vaughan and Andrew Flintoff and South African Jacques Kallis.

Developments will likely be watched closely by the Sydney Thunder, with Kallis contracted to return to the club for the fifth KFC T20 Big Bash League season in 2015-16.

Lee's manager Neil Maxwell confirmed his client had received an offer and would be seeking permission from CA to play.

"I can't see anything wrong with it, it's a group of retired blokes playing a game of cricket," Maxwell told News Corp. 

Lee played his last game of professional cricket in the BBL|04 final, with his Sydney Sixers losing a last-ball thriller to the Perth Scorchers. He could now potentially return to the field just eight months later. Lee retired from the international game in 2012.

A total of 28 retired cricketers are reportedly in the pair's sights, with initial contracts already circulated to targeted former players.

These contracts are to secure the players' involvement with detailed contracts and a sign-on fee of US$10,000 to follow within 30 days, according to The Australian.

Warne took to Twitter in January to foreshadow the plans, hinting at an "exciting announcement to make soon" of a deal with Tendulkar.

Warne wrote on Instagram: "Me & the little master have an exciting announcement to make soon. We look forward to sharing it with you all... Pumped !!!!!" before adding the hashtag #BBL04 and posting a pitcure of himself and Tendulkar from the Lord's bicentenary match, a game that featured a mix of past legends and current greats. 

The United States is seen as a lucrative but untapped market for cricket due to the large number of subcontinent expats living there.