r2i forum

As you all are aware, the ICL is gaining traction with the signing of many Indian players and a few international stars. Admitted some of these players are over the hill. Nevertheless I think this is great and just the jolt BCCI needed. I always thought of a dynamic Indian league in the lines of the NFL, NBA or MLB - professionally run, fan friendly and good entertainment and sports value. If you are cricket lover and have been to the grounds to see a test or 1-day in India you will know from the way you are treated in the ground how horrible the experience is - bad food, harrasment,stinking toilets, long lines.

This only makes sense considering the level of interest in cricket in India and helps make India the focus of the cricket world. Especially when you consider that the interest in cricket outside the subcontinent is only peripheral. Like the NBA this could mean that in the future, if you are an english or australian kid your dream will be to come and play professional cricket in India!! I hope the ICL does not die on the vine and becomes a success. If only to stick to BCCI for their shoddy functioning.

your comments welcome.

Admins: I know there is a cricket thread but I though this was a topic worthy in itself - after all the ICL is a rebel body!!

I agree. The BCCI is very unprofessional and cares just about money and power and it doesn't matter if Pawar is the Chairman or Dalmia. Most tickets are sold to corporate sponsors or affiliate cricketing bodies and due to broadcasting fueds telecasts are disrupted. I think good competitive cricket will always have a following. I also hope ICL plays 50 over matches instead of only Twenty20. I'm think they will do it once Twenty20 cricket takes off

From HT report - ....Kapil said. ?They are also free to play for India.?

Why are they still equating BCCI with India. BCCI is just a private body with no statutory existance and thus cannot represent India. It cannot actually even use the word India or portray that it represents India. BCCI is India only as much as ICL is India. So playing for ICL can also be called as playing for India.

ICL is a good thing that has happened to Indian Cricket. It will promote competition and more opportunities for budding players.

Like other cricket fans, cannot wait to see ICL operationalized. Who better to provide leadership to this growing organization than Kapil Dev.

I look forward to the day when I can actually start playing and watching cricket again, thanks to ICL. On the same note, I also wish for a day that district level leagues get as much attention as the current national team.

Looking forward to ICL's success. I hope this would get more people interested and passionate about their local team like NBA. Maybe eventually this would become a franchise like NBA, NFL etc and that would keep it more competitive and draw huge following. I do hope they come-up with the 50 over format soon.

Bombay Jets, Madras Heat and whats next - Hyderabad Biryani:emwink: .. I like it already.

It will be good to see some free market economics at work. Franchising has to be the next step. Buying a ticket to send a team to the ICC leagues will also help bring recognition. ICL does not need the ICC. The ICC, however, does need ICL and the likes to keep the game alive outside of the subcontinent. Hope this does not go the Kerry Packer way.

You can't go wrong with this. Let Essar, TATAs, Ambanis, Birlas, ZeetV wallas manage cricket affairs, it won't be worse than Pawar. When our young people work with world class players like Lara and Inzamam, you can only become better. I just hope that there is some more competition to ICT and it doesn't have monopoly.

History repeats itself, We shall see ICC becoming doordarshan and ICT becoming Zee TV.

Ironically, free market economics have forced BCCI to raise domestic players fees to be raised by 20%, plus additional training and raises for domestic umps. Also in their new fiscal plan they are allotting funds for improvement of infrastructure in domestic grounds.

So players can play English League, but not an Indian League without getting banned? Love the white skin but not our own skins? This is truly a shame! I wish someone would craft a racism card on this and bring BCCI to shame.

What gives BCCI the eternal and sole right to chose the team for "India" colors? Does being a monopoly give them a judicial and moral right to "ban" players for playing elsewhere, from playing for India? Does anyone see any Public Interest Litigation in the offing for either of these issues? How are the monopoly laws structured in Indian Law?