NEW DELHI, 3 August 2007 — India’s cricket chief Sharad Pawar ridiculed yesterday an unofficial competition carrying a prize of one million dollars, saying it would mainly feature players coming out of retirement.
Pawar also warned that promising younger players would be ineligible for the Indian team if they played in the tournament, which is being bankrolled by Zee Telefilms, India’s largest listed media company.
“I can’t see any threat from the ICL,” Pawar said, referring to the new competition, the Indian Cricket League, by its initials.
Pawar, a political heavyweight and the federal agriculture minister, was making his first public comments on the issue as he inaugurated a cricket facility in the western state of Gujarat. “Not many people are interested in watching retired players in action. Everyone wants to see official cricket, not the oldies,” he said.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has refused to recognize the league, which has consequently struggled to lure players despite reports of big money offers.
Most of the players linked to the competition are retired, semi-retired or unable to hold their place in the national side. The league would feature six teams playing in Twenty20 matches, a format viewed as a young man’s game.
But Pawar warned: “Also, I see no reason for young players going there. Only those who play official cricket can represent India.” Each team will comprise four international players, two Indian stars and eight upcoming cricketers, according to an ICL announcement in May. Matches are to be played across India in October and November.
Retired West Indian captain Brian Lara, Test cricket’s highest run-getter, is the only one to have been signed up as a player so far.
Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, former stars of Australia’s national side, last week dismissed claims by ICL chairman Kapil Dev that they had already signed up. But they continue to be linked to the series.
Reports have also linked former Pakistan captain Inzamam ul Haq and retired New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns to secret negotiations with the league.
The ICL, which carries a winner’s purse of one million dollars, is reminiscent of the World Cricket Series, which the late Australian TV mogul Kerry Packer launched to take on the cricket establishment in 1977. Packer roped in the world’s top players for the rebel series after being denied official TV rights by the Australian Cricket Board for matches played in that country.
Similarly, Zee Telefilms was rebuffed by the BCCI in 2004 despite tabling the highest bid of $308 million for Indian rights for a four-year period.
Pakistan Ban Their Players
From New Indian League
In Karachi, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will not allow current or former players still involved with the board to play in the unofficial Indian Cricket League, PCB Chairman Nasim Ashraf said yesterday.
“The ICL is not recognized by the International Cricket Council or its member boards so there is no question of our players going to play there,” Ashraf told reporters.
Sources close to some of the players said Shoaib Akhtar, Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik had received offers days after former captain Inzamam ul-Haq confirmed he had been approached by the organizers.
Ashraf said any player who decided to play in the league would not be selected again for Pakistan.
“We have clauses in our central contracts clearly outlining the board decides where the players can play,” he said.
“Even where former players are concerned if they are not holding any position with the board we can’t stop them. But those who are working for us will not be given permission to play in the Indian league.” India’s cricket board has also refused to endorse the league.
South Africa want Pakistan
venue changes after violence
South Africa have asked the Pakistan Cricket Board to revise their tour program, which includes two Tests and five One-Day Internationals, due to the security situation in Pakistan.
Pakistan Cricket Board sources told Reuters yesterday that South Africa had expressed concerns over playing in Peshawar, the capital of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).
“They have asked for a revision in the itinerary including a second look at the venues. They are not comfortable with Peshawar,” said one PCB source.
South Africa’s tour is due to start on Sept. 27 with the Tests scheduled for Karachi and Lahore while the one-dayers are in Lahore, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Multan and Faisalabad.
“The venues will revised in the next two weeks as we are having discussions with them (South Africa),” the source said.
“But they are satisfied with the overall security arrangements we are making for their tour. They have confidence in our ability to handle things,” he added.
He added that he did not expect South Africa to refuse to play the first test in the southern port city of Karachi.
In 2003, South Africa refused to play in Karachi and Peshawar for security reasons.
Pakistan is also due to host the Australia A team from Sept. 1 and the source said the PCB was concerned another major security incident could derail the tour.
“Cricket Australia at this stage is committed to go ahead with their tour. But we fear one more incident could lead to a rethink on their part,” the source said.
He added their could be a special security protocol in place for Australia and South Africa because of the situation.
But PCB Chairman Nasim Ashraf told reporters in Karachi the Australia and South Africa tours would be held on schedule.
He added that the Interior Ministry and Punjab police were handling the security arrangements and there was no cause for concern on the part of touring sides.
