The ICL gets going with the announcement of the players who have signed up.OK.Basically this is a battle of one media mogul against the BCCI.So we have to wait and watch how cricket benefits.There is no concept in India of watching league matches.Who goes for Ranji matches or watches them on TV?So the concept of having league teams without a country fix is a bit strange?Could they have modelled it on the county circuit---Chennai Veerans vesus Kolkatta jets?This could get a local crowd in Chennai or Kolkatta interested?I don't know.Then have a few overseas players in each team.Maybe it will work.Best is to have each team a regional affiliation. One thing that can come out is how good is the selection of the national team by the BCCI nominated selectors.This will hopefully expose some of the passengers in the national team.Unfortunately I do not see many of the younger set in the ICL list.Obviously many of them hope to play in the national team and would not like to spoil their chances.Interesting times ahead.
BCCI is a public body where elected representatives govern the Board while ICL is financed by one shrewd businessman who will control the body. I am afraid this could be the back door entry of Jagmohan Dalmiya who belongs to the same community that of the promoter of ICL. All discards, due for retirement and retired players have joined ICL which will not affect BCCI anyway. You cannot have two bodies sending national team. Kapil Dev too played politics in cricket. BCCI was spoiled by Jagmohan Dalmiya whose offices & residence were raided by ACB. Be watchful about ICL & do not come to jumping conclusions. Sharad Pawar is more tranparent than Dalmiya.
RE:ICL
by AAA on Aug 21, 2007 09:02 AM
First of all BCCI has no rights to ban a good indian player to represent India, only becos he is playing in ICL. BCCI is a public body to take care of cricketing activity in india and not to control it. ICL is definitely here to make money and no business man will make investment for charity purpose. ICL is govern by a businessman, and he will see to it that ICL florishes, cos if it florish then and then only he will be benefited. So those who are playing in ICL will have to perform or get lost. playing with foriegn players will boost our youngsters morale to perform better and this will help India to get some new talent. So moral of story is if BCCI cannot produce new talents, then BCCI should shut their mouth and assist(with expecting money in return)ICL to develop new talent
Good "catch" by ICL. I am sure, more players will join their ranks very soon. Players from Tamilnadu like L.Balaji (who will never get another chance to play for India) and Ashish Nehra from Delhi shouldnt waste any more time and grab this opportunity. A lesson or two needs to be taught to BCCI for thinking that the game of Cricket is their very own.
