July 26: The breakaway India Cricket League (ICL) seems to be gaining momentum with the inclusion of International players like Brian Lara, Shane Warne and Glen McGrath.
The former West Indies batting start Brian Lara has formally signed deal with ICL few days ago and now the former Indian captain and present chairman of the ICL executive board Kapil Dev has provided sufficient hints that some of Australian players who have already announced their retirement from International cricket are eager to be part of ICL.
Though the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not recognized ICL as it intends to act parallel to the board, some of the former Indian player like Kiran More, Sandeep Patil along with some well known international faces including former Australian player Dean Jones, Tony Craig roped up with the league.
Recent reports suggest that ICL is also in touch with New Zealand Test Captain Stephen Fleming, currently representing Yorkshire in county to captain one of the six teams to be formed in the later part of the year.
However, Fleming who has announced his retirement from One day international is yet to lead the team in the coming series in South Africa some where in November.
If the latest media report finds true then he will have to give up his international career to join ICL as the league is planning to start a Twenty20 championship between the six proposed teams some where down the year. However, Fleming has not yet confirmed whether it is just a rumor or he is actually going to be a part.
As per the media reports Lara has accepted the offer i.e. a deal of $500,000 and seems the same for the Kiwi. ICL is also mapping some other international players but then several questions that may arise relating the outcome of the league as the cricket guardian BCCI or International Cricket Council (ICC) has yet to recognize ICL.
If the sole aim of ICL is to prepare or train some of the India’s budding talent who can later represent India, then how come those players will represent the country if BCCI doesn’t give them a chance? In fact BCCI is already conducting Ranji Trophies for the same purposes and if so then it is obvious the board will eventually make their selection from Ranji players.
Again BCCI has made it clear that the infrastructure belongs to the board or any state cricket board can not be used by other. So it is clear that ICL can not use the stadiums for conducting its tournament as long as it has not obtained BCCI approval which seems different at this point of time. In fact there is much to come in this conflict.
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