BCCI proclaim to ban players from playing for India, if any players found aligning with ICL
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has once again warned players and officials against joining the Zee Group-sponsored Indian Cricket League
(ICL), which is lik
ely to be launched in September.The ICL is being set up by the Essel Group, which controls the Zee Telefilms.
Ex-India wicketkeeper Kiran More has joined the ICL Board, while former Indian batsman Sandeep Patil has joined as coach.
Former England skipper Tony Greig and former Australia batsman Dean Jones are also the members of the ICL Board.
The ICL plans a six-team Twenty20 event and hopes to field four foreigners and two current India players in each side.
"BCCI has already taken decision that any unapproved or unauthorised tournaments where our players or officials, who are with the BCCI, should not take
part in such tournaments. Either they have to choose their relationship with the BCCI or they can take any other job with the ICL or any other organization," Shah said.
Hitting out at the BCCI for threatening to take action against players who join the Indian Cricket League (ICL), former skipper Kapil Dev said the board's hostility towards the rebel series stemmed from its fear of being overshadowed.
"BCCI should not be threatening players because they cannot perform on the field under fear," Kapil, who is the chairman of ICL executive board, said.
"The board is scared of ICL. That is the only reason it is not willing to talk to
us," Kapil added.Kapil reacted strongly to BCCI president Sharad Pawar statement that the rebel series would be a flop as it would fail to find enough spectators.
"The statement that the BCCI president has made is shameful. If the board thinks that only the national XI can attract crowds, then it should stop conducting any domestic tournament," he said.
Kapil once against dared the board to sack him as National Cricket Academy chairman.
"BCCI is like a king and I am its subject. If it wants to sack me from the NCA then I cannot stop it," he said.
The BCCI may find it tough to implement its ban against rebel players joining the Indian Cricket League (ICL). Players may approach the courts against
the BCCI’s proclamation yesterday that any player aligning with the ICL will be banned for life from playing for India. Being a private organisation having
no authority over Indian cricket, despite being its de facto custodian, it has no right to legally represent Indian cricket.
Rahul Mehra, a Delhi-based Supreme Court lawyer reveals, “By birth, every citizen is eligible to represent the country, and no private organisation like the
BCCI can stop them from doing so.
Meanwhile, the ICL officials did not seem to be deterred by the Board’s latest move to thwart their league. “It is a sad and unfortunate move by the BCCI.
It will not make any difference to our plans. It is a decision that the players have to take,” said an ICL spokesperson.
Madan Lal hoped his move would not strain his relations with the BCCI.
"On my part, the relation stands the same. Cricket is my passion and I love coaching. I am happy that the ICL approached me. It is a very simple thing
that somebody approaches you for a job and you decide to accept that," he said.
Madan Lal is of the view that with the launch of the ICL, competition will grow which will benefit Indian cricket.
"It will create competition and we will see talented players coming up. It is for the good of Indian cricket only," he said.
posted by Pradeep @ 11:47 PM,
