Indian Cricket League ICL News

Indian-Cricket-League.com (A Cricket News Site)

The first news and information website on Indian Cricket League
The ICL (India) is a private cricket league that runs parallel to the existing cricket league managed by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The format of ICL is Twenty20.

This website, http://www.indian-cricket-league.com/, (Created on: 03-Apr-2007) is in no way affiliated with or is the property of Zee's ICL (India) or Indian Cricket League (Florida). This site is part of the Cricket Circle information and news network.

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Rohan Gavaskar quits ICL, seeks permission to play domestic games

Former India One-day player, and Sunil Gavaskar's son, Rohan Gavaskar, who had joined the Indian Cricket League (ICL), has sought permission from BCCI to play in domestic tournaments.
Rohan Gavaskar, who played 11 ODIs, was playing for the Royal Bengal Tigers team in the ICL.

Razzaq released by ICL, submits NOC to PCB

Abdul Razzaq has become the latest Pakistani player to be released by the Indian Cricket League, clearing the hurdle in his return to the mainstream cricket. Razzaq, 29, before aligning with the ICL played 46 Tests and 231 one-dayers.
The all-rounder has submitted the No Objection Certificate (NOC), he got from the rebel league, with the Pakistan Cricket Board.

BCCI Amnesty: ICL releases 50 players

The ICL released around 50 players who had sought a return to official cricket. The list includes Shane Bond (New Zealand), Imran Nazir and Naved-ul-Hasan (Pakistan), Habibul Bashar (Bangladesh), Deep Dasgupta, Abhishek Jhunjhunwala and Hemang Badani (India).
The palyers will still have to wait for decisions from their respective boards before resuming domestic cricket. There is a ten-year ban imposed upon the former skipper Bashir, by the BCB.

BCCI offers amnesty, ICL says league on

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has offered a general amnesty to the players associated with breakaway Indian Cricket League (ICL). The so called 'rebels' have been given one month to come back to the BCCI fold on the condition that they would forfeit international cricket for one year.
"We have decided to grant amnesty to all players, support staff and anyone else connected with the ICL provided they cancel all their existing contracts with the league by May 31," BCCI president Shashank Manohar said after the Board's working committee meeting. The players, Manohar said, would be allowed to play in the domestic league.
The ICL said the league will go ahead and those who want to can go. "We have already announced our programme for the Season III. It will be held in October," an ICL spokesman said.

ICL threatens to sue ICC

The Indian Cricket League has threatened to take legal action against the International Cricket Council ICC if its application for official recognition is rejected by the governing body. The ICC Executive Board will meet in Dubai on April 17 and 18 during which it will consider the ICL's application for ICC approval to stage unofficial cricket.
"We are hopeful to receive official recognition at the ICC Executive Board meeting scheduled for April 17th and 18th in Dubai, failing which we will pursue legal options," Subhash Chandra, Chairman, Essel Group, said.
The ICL is keen on the ICC recognising its players in their official records.
The BCCI's firm opposition to the ICL had also forced several other national cricket boards to take punitive action against their players who featured in the ICL.

ICC seek BCCI and ICL agreement

International Cricket Council president David Morgan and chief executive Haroon Lorgat will on Monday attempt to broker an agreement in the long-running dispute between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian Cricket League (ICL).
"I've long regarded it as a priority to bring together the BCCI and the owners of the ICL and I'm pleased to say we have fixed a meeting to take place in Johannesburg on Monday," said Morgan.
The ICL, which is bankrolled by India's largest media group, Zee Television, is not recognised by the BCCI or the ICC, unlike the Indian Premier League (IPL) which has paid fantastic sums to lure players to its tournament. "I hope we might be successful in coming to a mutually acceptable conclusion. I can't be certain that will be the case but I hope we can at least make a start in bringing about a settlement," added Morgan.
Earlier this week, a Pakistani court lifted domestic bans on the country's last six active players who had joined the ICL.

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LB v HH, 3rd Final: Lahore Badshahs lift ICL Trophy

Favourites Lahore Badshahs lived up to their reputation and annexed the ICL Twenty20 League title after an easy eight-wicket win over Hyderabad Heroes in the third final on Sunday.
Imran Nazir cracked a huge six to land the winning runs as Lahore won the best-of-three finals 2-1.
Requiring 159 to win, Lahore flew to victory in just 13.5 overs as Nazir blazed his way to an unbeaten 111 off just 44 balls. Nazir heaved 11 sixes and seven fours to pulverise the hapless Hyderabad bowlers. He made a mockery of the contest and provided the spectators with a fabulous exhibition of power hitting.
Earlier, before the deciding final got underway at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel stadium on Sunday, Inzamam-ul Haq's Lahore Badshahs were on the ground limbering up. They were also seen using the long handle trying to clear the ropes. The fast bowlers bent their back trying to extract extra pace and the spinners too had a good workout wheeling their arms. There were also some good catches taken, some wonderful saves and some excellent throws.
Whatever they did, there was a sense of purpose in it and why not? They were just a step away from the title when on Saturday Jusine Kemp plucked a blinder from thin air, jumping and diving on the boundary line and changed everything. Lahore Badshahs, after winning the first final against Hyderabad Heroes with ease, lost the second by a whisker and so Sunday was D-day.
The way Azhar Mahmood celebrated after he sent Man-of-the-Match in the second final, Jimmy Maher's, leg-stump cartwheeling, one could get the feeling that the Badshahs bowlers are not going to give anything away. But as usual, Khaleel held one end tight and built up small partnerships with Anirudh Singh, Ambati Rayudu and Stuart Binny to take the Heroes to 158 for the loss of 7 wickets. The scenario could have been much better for the Hyderabad team had Shahid Nazir not bowled that spell in the middle overs.
Nazir ensured that Badshahs don't have to chase much more than what they did on Saturday night by picking up three crucial wickets giving away just 29 runs. Saqlain Mushtaq took two wickets.

LB v HH, 3rd Final: Lahore Badshahs 160 for 2 (13.5 overs) beat Hyderabad Heroes 158 for 7 (20.0 overs) by 8 wickets

Indian Cricket League - ICL History

Zee launches ambitious $232mn Indian Cricket League

In a move effectively challenging the Indian cricket board's national tournaments, Zee Group Tuesday announced the launch of an ambitious Indian Cricket League (ICL) with a corpus fund of Rs 1 billion ($232.26 million) and a promise to field many international players.

Stung by the announcement and in order to stop speculation, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) quickly issued a statement that its president Sharad Pawar has received a letter, but said no more.
The announcement came as a surprise also because Zee owns the BCCI rights for overseas international cricket. Zee won the five-year rights for $219.15 million.

"A professional league is the need of the hour as is the killer instinct in the players. We will try to do it as early as possible -- maybe in July," said Zee group chairman Subhash Chandra at a press conference here.
Chandra sounded extremely confident of getting the BCCI approval for ICL, whose winner would receive $1 million - the highest prize money ever announced for a cricket tournament in the country.
"It is not in conflict with the BCCI, but is complimentary to it. We have sent a proposal to the BCCI and I don't think they will reject it. I even don't want to assume that BCCI will reject it," he said.

BCCI, which has already called a working committee meeting in Mumbai Saturday to discuss the World Cup debacle, will perhaps have to add another item to its agenda. The board statement said: "BCCI president Sharad Pawar has received a letter from Mr. Subhash Chandra, Zee Television, seeking permission to start the Indian Cricket League. An appropriate decision in this matter will be taken by the board."
The ambitious league, if allowed by the BCCI, threatens to do what late Australian millionaire Kerry Packer did almost three decades ago when he hired the world's top players for his own World Series Cricket following his fight for television rights with the Australian board. Chandra said that the current Indian team players along with those from other countries would be seen in action in the league. He said the ICL would be an annual feature. All the matches will be telecast on Zee Sports. Zee also plans to set-up residential academies equipped with state-of-the-art facilities across the country.
Sports medicine would be introduced to ensure top fitness of players and a full-fledged record of their behavioural pattern, diet-plan and game statistics would be maintained. The group will also appoint talent scouts in all 35 states to hunt for young players to play in the league. "We have expertise in talent-search in the entertainment field, we will use that same expertise to unearth cricketing talent in India," Chandra said. He said each team would have a coach, physiotherapist, and psychologist. The league will have a professional media manager, and an ombudsman to resolve issues that may be raised by the public, or even by the players.

"A professional league is the need of the hour as is the killer instinct in the players. Budding talent must be groomed at the grass-roots level and given the experience to play on competitive pitches and not on placid tracks." Chandra, however, declined to disclose the names of the players likely to take part. "There are a few big names which we don't want to disclose now." He added that other companies are invited to launch their own clubs or teams and can take part in the league. "We would love participation from other companies as well. They are invited to launch their own teams and take part in the league very similar to what we have in the National Football League," he said.

The Indian Cricket League Format

The Indian Cricket League will consist of six teams or clubs in the first year and will be increased to 16 over the next three years. To start with, all the matches will be Twenty20 affairs and will be played on home-and-away basis. Gradually, the format of the matches will be changed to 50-over a side. The champion team will get the winner's purse of $1 million. Each team in the league will have two Indian international players registered with the BCCI, four foreign players and the rest young and budding players. The players, who will take part in the ICL, will be contracted with the company and will get a fixed amount every month.

The finer points of ICL:

6 teams or clubs to play in opening year

Talks on with BCCI for gaining access to stadiums

Executive Board of the league under installation

Pool of referees and umpires to be created

Rules committee to form regulations for ICL

Ombudsman to look into grievances of players

League to begin with Twenty20 format and move to ODI format

League to be a joint venture between Essel Group and ILFS Group

Each of the 6 teams to be coached by an ex-India player

Each team would comprise four foreign, two Indian and eight budding players

Each team to have a mentor, media manager, psychologist, physio

Prize money for the winner- USD 1 million

League teams to compete with teams internationally

Number of teams to be increased from 6 to 16 in three years

Cricket News Archives

• India Cricket League News : October 2008
• India Cricket League News : September 2008
• India Cricket League News : November 2007
• India Cricket League News : October 2007
• India Cricket League News : September 2007
• India Cricket League News : August 2007
• India Cricket League News : July 2007
• India Cricket League News : June 2007
• India Cricket League News : May 2007
• India Cricket League News : April 2007