IPL will produce butchers not classic cricketers: Ranatunga

Dubai, Apr 19 (ANI): Former Sri Lanka skipper Arjuna Ranatunga has criticized the Indian cricket board for harming the game through the Indian Premier League as it will now produce butchers, instead of better Test players.

Ranatunga, who is in Dubai to give away the Shyam Bhatia annual cricket awards, blamed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the game heading towards disaster in India.

"They won the World Cup, but look at the way they are playing Test cricket. They are losing to most of the countries and don't produce any more Gavaskars, Vengsarkars or Viswanaths, Tendulkars, Dravids and Laxmans. I am talking about classical cricketers," Ranatunga told Gulf News.

"They will now produce butchers because of the IPL. Most countries are now being controlled by the Indian Cricket Board because they are the kingpin and have all the money," he said.

"In the International Cricket Council (ICC), when India says something, all the others keep their mouths shut because they are dependent on Indian money. The ICC board officials are there to get money for their country rather than to promote and protect the game properly," Ranatunga added.

Commenting on the fallout of the IPL on the game, he said cricketers now prefer to play IPL rather than for their country.

"Malinga has retired from Test cricket because he wants to play in the IPL and our board did nothing. You cannot pick and choose. The IPL is entertainment for a public who does not understand the game. People who understand this lovely game will never get into the shorter version," he said. (ANI)