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The standoff between a new rebel cricket league and the Indian board may ultimately prove beneficial for cricket in the country.
The Indian Cricket League (ICL) has shaken up the very foundations of cricket in India. The complacent and often dictatorial Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has now something very serious to think about.
For too long, the BCCI has been chugging along with greed for money the only objective. More attention has been paid to lucrative TV deals than the well-being of the game.
The Indian cricket structure has hardly changed over the years. The Ranji Trophy is played on the same benign pitches and no moves have been made to infuse life into it.
In the bargain, India is not producing enough players to take over from the current crop. Many of the young players are found wanting at the top level despite producing runs in domestic matches.
Selections have often proved bizarre and bias still exists. The zonal system of selection means that there are at least two or three players who get a free ride in the team.
Such is the state of affairs that India still does not have a coach after the departure of Greg Chappell. The arrogant attitude of the BCCI has put off many candidates.
The BCCI has also been known to crowd the calendar year with loads of one-day matches to cash in on the popularity of the format and satisfy its greed for money. Many of the players have suffered a burnout in the bargain.
Test matches have always taken the back seat and India’s performance suffered in this form of the game.
Worst of all, players in the domestic leagues have not been paid well over the years. Some of the good Ranji Trophy players have fallen into bad times after their retirement.
The BCCI is not known to look after the players once their career is over. Benefit matches rarely see the light of the day.
In this kind of a scenario, the ICL is just what the doctor ordered. The league will play 45 days of cricket a year and will not clash with the schedule of the BCCI.
The ICL has chosen many young Indian players with potential who will rub shoulders with ageing international stalwarts in a Twenty20 format.
These young players will be getting a good financial deal which will secure their future. By playing alongside superstars like Brian Lara, Mohammed Yousuf and Inzamam-ul-Haq, they are bound to improve their game.
There is every likelihood that the players who have joined the ICL will face life bans from the BCCI. But many of the young players feel that it does not matter because they may never get a chance to play for India anyway.
However, it is surprising that Yousuf and two other current Pakistan players, Abdul Razzaq and Imran Farhat, have joined the rebel league. Yousuf has been Pakistan’s best player recently and it is probably his omission from Pakistan’s Twenty20 squad which brought about the decision.
Farhat has been at loggerheads with the Pakistan board recently and his decision was expected. Razzaq has not been in top form recently but he may regret his decision if the Pakistan board bans him for life.
The defection of these three players once again highlights that things are not well in Pakistan cricket. However, it is hoped that the Pakistan board sees some sense and does not impose harsh penalties on its players.
The BCCI must also wake up to the fact that it can exist along with the ICL. It will be healthy for Indian cricket.
The ICL is also willing to release the players whenever they are required for national duty. So there is no reason for the BCCI to take a harsh stance. At the end of the day, the ICL is as money-driven as the BCCI. So if somebody else takes a piece of the pie, let them.
If good cricket is played, the spectators will always come to watch, whether it is run by the BCCI or the ICL.
As a reaction to the ICL, the BCCI has already decided to launch its own league. Domestic players will also earn 40 per cent more from now on.
This means that already some good is coming out of the standoff. A truce must be called and both the BCCI and the ICL should learn to co-exist for the future of Indian cricket.
Cricket
By Babu Kalyanpur
babu.kallianpur@tradearabia.net
