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[dextrous]

Cricket Board ready to accept ICL's overseas players 

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New Delhi, Nov 26 (IANS): In a surprise move Monday, a senior member of the Indian cricket board said that for their inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) they are ready to accept overseas players, who have signed for the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), but put a question mark on taking back domestic cricketers.

"Foreign players who have joined the ICL are welcome to play for the IPL, provided they terminate their contract with the ICL," said board joint secretary M.P. Pandove after a board meeting here.

When asked whether domestic cricketers, who have joined the ICL backed by the Essel Group are also welcome, Pandove said: "I don't think they have any chance."

The Board launched the IPL in order to counter the rebel ICL.

Some of the fringe domestic players and foreign cricketers like West Indies great Brian Lara and South African Daryl Cullinan have joined the ICL, which will kick-off with the inaugural Twenty20 Tournament from Nov 30 in Panchkula.

The board has barred all domestic cricketers, who joined the ICL, from playing in board-run tournaments.

Board vice-president Rajiv Shukla said as of now the exemption is only for overseas players. "Foreign players will be allowed to shift from ICL to IPL, but no such exemption is given for domestic cricketers, though a lot of them are eager to return."

The board also announced that IPL Twenty20 league would start in the second week of April and run through May, with 59 matches spread over 44 days.

The league will be modelled on the lines of football's English Premier League and the highly popular National Basketball Association (NBA) league in the US, where entrepreneurs will get a chance to own a team and also select players of their choice.

Commenting on the number of the bidders, who have shown interest in owning IPL teams, board's vice-president Lalit Modi said: "Till now we have a hundred applicants wanting to own teams, but can't disclose the names of the bidders till the deadline for bidding is over."

Modi also added that the media rights for the tournament would be floated next week.

"The media rights will be for five years, with a base price of $59 million for one year," said Modi.

Meanwhile, Board secretary Niranjan Shah said that injured fast bowlers Shantakumaran Sreesanth and Rudra Pratap Singh will be called for the Kolkata Test match and team physio John Gloster would review their fitness.

He also said that 22 applications had been received for the post of Team India coach.
 
http://www.kalingatimes.com/sports_news/news1/20071126-overseas-players.htm

[kban1]

Once again the BCCI proves that it is interested the least in the welfare of the game & players and most about the bottomline, which can only be protected by squashing competition by hook or by crook.

Avaricious money grabbers --the absolute pits!!

[Blwe_torch]

Why is BCCI so scared of ICL? I have a feeling that this BCCI will certainly mess up the IPL...or whatever they are launching.

[justforkix]

This is guaranteed to be a flop show. IPL is scheduled to be played in India from April 15 - May 31 !!!!!!!!!! - unless the plan is to play in the Himalayas, most players will be dead by May 1

[CLR James]

This is the limit. So in principle, journeyman cricketers from other countries can be accepted, but domestic slaves who had dared to revolt will be finished forever! This is a feudal and high caste imagination at work here (the players therefore are the new untouchables). What makes people like Shah and Modi think that they own Indian cricket and have done more for it than a Rohan Gavaskar or a Deep Dasgupta? These pathetic and corrupt opportunists are allowed to thrive only because the public remains silent. They have no love for the game and absolutely no regards for the players who make it possible in the first place. I hope someone files a public interest litigation against the BCCI. If the rebel league falls through, Mr. Kapil Dev should spend some of his millions to protect the careers of his wards. They took a step on his word and they deserve to be looked after.

[manee]

It is fair enough that they will not accept cricketers who turn their backs on the state system and BCCI but I feel that the BCCI should take back people once their ICL contracts have run out.

You cannot prevent someone making a choice by punishing them forever, people should be able to play in the ICL to gain some experience against international opposition under a new coaching system before returning to the state system. The ICL should take it to the courts (and should win) if the BCCI plan on imposing lifetime bans - I know the ICL have taken the BCCI for court but I am sure that is simply over the idea of bans.

The Indian legal system is extremely corrupt though and I will not be shocked if the ICL lose their case due to mysterious funding to the courts by the BCCI.

[WicketView]

Can such a blatant case of discrimination based on nationality against Indians happen anywhere else in the world?

[Cover Point]

do they have any recourse in courts? Or are our courts impotent to the needs of Indian cricketers?

[OldPal]

This is the limit. So in principle, journeyman cricketers from other countries can be accepted, but domestic slaves who had dared to revolt will be finished forever! This is a feudal and high caste imagination at work here (the players therefore are the new untouchables). What makes people like Shah and Modi think that they own Indian cricket and have done more for it than a Rohan Gavaskar or a Deep Dasgupta? These pathetic and corrupt opportunists are allowed to thrive only because the public remains silent. They have no love for the game and absolutely no regards for the players who make it possible in the first place. I hope someone files a public interest litigation against the BCCI. If the rebel league falls through, Mr. Kapil Dev should spend some of his millions to protect the careers of his wards. They took a step on his word and they deserve to be looked after.

I seriously hope Press starts writing in the same spirit as you and people take onto streets as things seem to be getting too much wayward ..
Can't even say that this body(BCCI) be controlled by sprots ministry - As that would be politicising cricket ( as if it is less politicised) .
But the retardedness of some has to be controlled.

I still remember modi making announcement  he will be gifting YS a Porsce 911 after YS six sixes.( At that time he wasn't sure from whom ( later converted when asked) ).
I really wonder how much money these guys make on and off the table .. to afford to give this kinds of gifts. Working for BCCI in that case would be a top job for IIM grads...

[broadbat]

Has anyone noticed that almost everyone providing sound bites about Indian cricket these days are people who have jumped on the ICL bandwagon.

[keep-it-cool]

This is guaranteed to be a flop show. IPL is scheduled to be played in India from April 15 - May 31 !!!!!!!!!! - unless the plan is to play in the Himalayas, most players will be dead by May 1

this is on a home and away basis .. but, all of them will be night matches .. so, i guess the heat will not be a big factor

[Blwe_torch]

Has anyone noticed that almost everyone providing sound bites about Indian cricket these days are people who have jumped on the ICL bandwagon.

Can't be helped..........the rest of them ( remaining under BCCI umbrella) are all gagged.

[keep-it-cool]

I dont get zee sports on tata sky ...will only know closer to the event whether they even intend to offer it.

And, Subash Chandra announced in a conference yesterday that Zee intends to start two more channels - one dedicated to cricket and another dedicated to football. Wonder what they'll show on these .. especially the cricket one!!!

[broadbat]

Wonder what they'll show on these .. especially the cricket one!!!

Since reality shows are big time these days it will most likely be Zee Soap Stars Vs Zee Sports Stars.

[RicePlateReddy]

What makes people like Shah and Modi think that they own Indian cricket and have done more for it than a Rohan Gavaskar or a Deep Dasgupta?

Ha ha ha! Did you choose the last 2 names on purpose? Somehow, I wouldn't mind any "punishment" meted out to these two.