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Indian Cricket League - ICL News August 2007
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The Indian Cricket League (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. Indian Cricket League is a service mark of PayAutoMata, Florida.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.
The Indian Cricket League (ICL) is all set to begin the coaching of its players at 'Mayajaal', a resort-cum-entertainment park with a stadium. It is privately owned by the Pentamedia Group, an entertainment company, near Chennai.
The players are set to begin training from Friday in the stadium about 15 kilometres from Chennai which has three turf wickets. Over 56 players, including former India players Hemang Badani, Dinesh Mongia and Tamil Kumaran, have so far reported for the camp. ICL plans to stage its inaugural tournament in October with a mix of foreign and domestic cricketers.
Mohammad Yousuf diefies PCB and heads for ICL
Aug 30, 2007
Pakistan's top batsman Mohammad Yousuf has done the ''disappearing'' act with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) desperate to contact him and try to persuade him to leave the rebel Indian Cricket League and return to national duty.
The media speculated that Yousuf might have already left for Chennai where the ICL has started its training camp for the first series of matches in October and November.
Kiwis Won`t Release Players For ICL
Aug 29, 2007
New Zealand Cricket chief Justin Vaughan announced NZC will not be releasing any contracted players for the proposed Indian Cricket League (ICL).
The New Zealand Cricket acted tough apparently because its prized players - Test captain Stephen Fleming and fast bowler Shane Bond - were being linked to the ICL. Vaughan said the New Zealand Cricket Players' Association supported the NZC's stand.
ICL takes BCCI to court
Aug 24, 2007
The tussle between the BCCI and the Indian Cricket League on Friday reached the Delhi High Court with the breakaway group seeking to restrain the Board from "intimidating" its players and interfering in its affairs.
The lawsuit filed by ICL sought a direction to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to allow ICL to use stadia across the country for its tournaments.
It said the pensions given by BCCI to former players should not be stopped in the event they join the ICL.
ICL has also sought that BCCI should be restrained from using Indian flag and name of the country as it was accepted by the Board before the Supreme Court that it was a private body.
The newly formed cricket body by Essel Group wanted that no players should be intimidated by the BCCI for playing with the ICL.
BCCI sacks Kapil Dev
Aug 21, 2007
Rattled by the Indian Cricket League's massive recruitment drive, the BCCI on Tuesday retaliated by sacking Kapil Dev as Chairman of National Cricket Academy for aligning with the multi-million dollar breakaway league and announced hefty pay hikes for domestic cricketers to prevent a fresh exodus.
In an apparent bid to counter the challenge posed by the Subhash Chandra-owned Essel Group, the BCCI came out with a slew of financial measures to retain its players, while making it clear that the defectors would be barred from playing for India or at the domestic level.
The decision to sack Kapil Dev, who also heads the ICL's Executive Board, was taken at the Board's Special General Meeting, which deliberated at length on the contentious ICL issue.
Addressing a crowded press conference, BCCI Treasurer N Srinivasan put up a bold face, saying that the exodus of domestic players was not a problem.
NCA Vice Chairman Ajay Shirke has been appointed as the acting Chairman of the Bangalore-based academy and a decision on the new Chairman would be taken at BCCI's Annual General Meeting on September 28.
Breaking News : Indian Cricket League formation
Klusener, Boje, Inzamam head ICL roster
Aug 20, 2007
Indian Cricket League announced their roster of players today in Mumbai which included Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq, Imran Farhat, Klusener, Boje and an assortment of Indian players - prominent in the list being Dinesh Mongia, Deep Dasgupta, Jai P Yadav and T Kumaran, all former Indian cricketers. This has left several Ranji teams like Hyderabad, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Railways and Bengal severely depleted.
It is speculated that players from Indian domestic cricket were being paid in the region of Rs 30 lakh a year.
Kapil Dev, the chairman of the executive board of the ICL, Himanshu Mody, the project head of ICL, Sandeep Patil, Kiran More, EAS Prasanna, Bharat Reddy, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, Madan Lal, Rajesh Chauhan and Pranab Roy were present at the meeting.
The Pakistan Cricket Board PCB issued a cautious initial response to the news that four of its leading players had signed up with the Indian Cricket League, saying that they would like to confirm the reports with the players before proceeding with any action. When the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI meets in Mumbai on Tuesday, the officials will have to decide what action to take with players who have joined the ICL.
ICL Indian players Ambati Rayudu, Abhishek T, Alfred Absolem, Avinash Yadav, Ranjit Khirid, Raviraj Patil, Reetinder Sodhi, Deep Dasgupta, V Devendran, Dheeraj Jadhav, Dinesh Mongia, Kaushik Reddy, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Manish Sharma, Hemanth Kumar, Ibrahim Khaleel, Thirunavukarasu Kumaran, Inder Shekar Reddy, Syed Abbas Ali Khan, Abhishek Jhunjhunwala, Ishan Malhotra, J Hariesh, Jai Prakash Yadav, Mohnish Mishra, Puskaraj Mohan Joshi, R Satish, Rajesh Sharma, Shreyas Khanolkar, Subhojit Paul, Subhomoy Das, T Surendra, G Vignesh, D Vinay Kumar, Robin Morris, Sachin Dholpure, Sarabjit Singh, Syed Akhlakh Ahmed, Shalabh Srivastava, Shashank Nag, Shibsagar Singh, Yashpal Singh, Sumit Kalia, Dakshinamoorthy Kumaran
ICL likely to announce teams
Aug 19, 2007
Organisers of the Indian Cricket League (ICL) are expected to lay the cards on the table in Mumbai on Monday by revealing the names of the players, who have signed up for the rebel cash-rich event.
Reports are doing rounds that Punjab Ranji skipper Dinesh Mongia, Railways all-rounder JP Yadav, Mumbaikars Amol Muzumdar and Nilesh Kulkarni and the Delhi trio of Aakash Chopra, Amit Bhandari and Vijay Dahiya are ready to jump on to the bandwagon.
From Bengal, former India stumper Deep Dasgupta is widely believed to have taken the plunge as well.
With time running out for the event, the ICL authorities went on a signing spree over the last few days and managed to lure in eight players from Hyderabad Ranji team.
Besides, S Sriram of Tamil Nadu also joined the rebel league while former India player Sanjay Bangar revealed he was in negotiations with the organisers.
UP trio of Shalabh Srivastava, Ali Murtaza and Avinash Yadav have also reportedly sided with the rebel league.
Inzamam has signed up for ICL
Aug 19, 2007
Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has become the first Pakistani player to sign up to play in the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL).
His father, Pir Intazam-ul-Haq confirmed on Sunday that his son had indeed signed up for the ICL.
"He is in London where he has to gone to play for Yorkshire. But yes, he has signed with the ICL. That is what he told me when I last spoke to him," he said.
Inzamam was the first Pakistani player to get an offer from the ICL and had made it clear he was interested in playing for the league as it gave him an opportunity to keep in touch with the game and earn some good money.
Inzamam has not been given a central contract by the Pakistan Cricket Board after he retired from ODIs.
The PCB has said it would not consider any player who is contracted to them for future selection if he plays in the Indian league.
Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports claimed that Abdul Razzaq and Mohammad Yousuf have also signed up for the ICL.
It has also been reported that pacers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, who initially rejected ICL offers, have received fresh enhanced offers from the organisers.
Yousuf, Inzamam, Raazaq may join ICL
Aug 12, 2007
Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, opener Imran Farhat and some other cricketers are thinking of joining the Indian Cricket League (ICL), according to a source.
The source was quoted by the Dawn as saying that these players were in touch with the organisers' agent, and the negotiations on terms and conditions specially related to the financial package were in the final phase.
Meanwhile, PCB's Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi has said that those players joining the league would be banned from playing for the country.
"I will not make any comment specifically on the news about Razzaq considering joining the ICL, but for all those players who intend to go for it (ICL), I would like to remind that they will be banned from Pakistan cricket," Naghmi said.
"We will not stop anyone and we can't do that, but the PCB has already announced its decision of banning such cricketers," he added.
"We have delivered the central contract to all the remaining four players and have also extended the deadline for signing it (till Aug 15, 2007). Now it is up to them to take a decision," Naghmi said.
Jai Prakash Yadav set to become the first Indian cricketer to join ICL
Aug 11, 2007
India allrounder Jai Prakash Yadav has shown interest in being a part of the Indian Cricket League (ICL) and is presently negotiating with ICL officials.
If things fall in line, Yadav could become the first Indian player to join ICL. "It is a good initiative and I am keen on joining it," Yadav was quoted as saying to the Hindustan Times.
"In fact, negotiations are on and it's only a matter of days before I join them. I am glad it has happened. It will only help the players," he added.
Yadav has played 12 ODIs for India, although with limited success and as such hasnt been in the national reckoning over the last two years.
Therefore he becomes an ideal target for the ICL, who are keen to give recognition to players seeking a comeback to big-time cricket.
Yadav hinted that there are some more Ranji players lining up to join ICL.
Wikipedia information about Jai Prakash Yadav
(born August 7, 1974 in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh), is an Indian cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-pace bowler.
Playing for Railways cricket team in the Ranji Trophy, he batted primarily as an opener. His highest first class score of 265 is the best ever by a Madhya Pradesh batsman.
Yadav's ability to bat and bowl well got him drafted for the team in November 2002. But he did not perform well in the ODIs against West Indies and was dropped.
He topped the wicket takers' list in 2004/05 domestic season, with an allround performance which helped Railways and Central zone win the Ranji Trophy and the Duleep Trophy respectively. He was again called into the ODI team, for the 2005 Indian Oil Cup, before again being discarded at the end of the year.
Indian Cricket League in contact with 60 international players
Aug 07, 2007
Former England captain Tony Greig and Indian Cricket League representative claimed recently that the breakaway league was in contact with 60 international players.
With the likes of West Indian Brian Lara already signing for the Twenty20 competition and ex-Australian Glenn McGrath already expressing his desire to be a part of the competition, there seems to be a plan to rope in several star cricketers.
ICL is offering up to $2.3million for a three-year contract to certain stars with the original contracts known to include a loyalty payment, and anybody who hesitates will find their payments reduced if they try to get back on board later, a FOX Sports report added.
The powerful Indian cricket board has made it clear that it will impose life bans on any of its international players or youngsters who are associated with the ICL.
The board is determined to spoil the breakaway competition.
ICL receives support from Digvijay Singh
Aug 07, 2007
The Indian Cricket League today received support from an unexpected quarter with Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh urging the BCCI to give up its confrontationist attitude against the break-away League.
In a letter written to BCCI President Sharad Pawar in his individual capacity, Singh said "instead of taking confrontationist stand you should act as a facilitator for the ICL to succeed.
"I am sure the objective of the BCCI is not to make the millions but to popularise the game of cricket. I am sure you will prevail upon the handliners in the Board and make them understand sentiments of millions of cricket lovers in India," said Singh, also a friend of Pawar.
"What is good for cricket and cricketers should obviously be good for the BCCI," he added.
The BCCI last week said any cricketer aligning with the Zee Telefilms proposed League would be banned from national duty.
Replying to a question, Singh dismissed suggestions that he was taking on Pawar and said he had written the letter as a cricket lover.
Singh said he did not have a "hidden agenda" in writing such a letter and felt Pawar was being forced by some of his colleagues to take the confrontationist stance.
"I don't know why is he pre-empting this. It's almost like apartheid," he said.
The Congress leader also said BCCI was there for "cricket and cricketers and not to look after (its own) members only."
Bashar, Mahmud express interest in Indian Cricket League
Aug 02, 2007
Former Bangladesh captains Habibul Bashar and Khaled Mahmud have expressed interest in participating in the Indian Cricket League (ICL) if they were offered contracts approved by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
"I have a contract with the BCB and I want to honour it," Bashar said. "If the ICL offer does not clash with it, I will definitely play. I think I am fit enough to compete at the highest level and I will play at least three more years," he added.
However, Bashar who has a contract with the BCB till October said he had not got any offer to play in the ICL. He was replaced as the Bangladesh captain by Mohammad Ashraful for Bangladeshs tour of Sri Lanka and has not been picked for the Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa this September.
Mahmud, who retired from international cricket in February last year but continues to play in the domestic league, said: "Realistically, I dont expect any offer from any ICL team. But if there is any and the BCB permits me, yes, I can play."
Mahmud had been manager of the Bangladesh side during the Champions Trophy last year.
When Mohammad Rafique, the left-arm spinner, was asked whether there was any possibility of his joining the ICL, he said, "Let them offer me (a contract), then I will think about it."
The ICL is a Twenty20 tournament proposed to be held in India around October. It plans to feature six teams, each including four international players and two Indian stars.
Zee launches ambitious $232mn Indian Cricket League
April 02, 2007
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
April 02, 2007
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
The official web site of Subash Chandra's Essel Group's ICL is www.IndianCricketLeague.in
For news and information about the twenty20 League, write directly to:
Indian Cricket League, Essel Sports Pvt Ltd,
135 Continental Building, Dr. Annie Besant Road,
Worli, Mumbai 400018.
Email id: response@indiancricketleague.in
I really do not know exactly why the BCCI has shown scant interest in me. Erapalli Prasanna, talking to Rediff.
New Zealand Cricket cannot agree to release our contracted players to participate in the ICL. NZC Chief Executive Justin Vaughan.
If it is true that they have signed up, then losing Yousuf would be the biggest blow to Pakistan cricket. Shafqat Naghmi, PCB's chief operating officer.
This is the cream of the country. Kapil Dev, Chairman of ICL's executive board.
I thought of all the pros and cons... This gives me very good security. Abhishek Jhunjhunwala, the young Bengal batsman who signed up.
Yes, it will do better than BCCI
It will have a supportive role to BCCI 
"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.
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The official web site of Subash Chandra's Essel Group's ICL is 
I really do not know exactly why the BCCI has shown scant interest in me.
