Subhash Chandra announced the formation of the Indian Cricket League mainly to make money from the cricket crazy Indian public. He hoped that BCCI would support him in his venture and take a share of the earnings as well. But, the money hungry board that single handedly rules over any cricket activity in India was not ready to part a piece of it’s pie. The great Indian cricket tussle had begun.
BCCI never felt that ICL would be able to kick off as they maintained their authority over all cricket stadiums and domestic cricketers who aspired to play for the country. They even made fun of ICL when retired players started signing up with lucrative deals. BCCI had the biggest shock of the century when several domestic players started signing up for the league despite life ban threat. The sleeping giant had woken up to the biggest Indian migration since the partition of India and Pakistan. This kind of switchover is not found in the political circles as well.
BCCI had to do something really quick, or the cards were turning square. They put together a great format for Twenty20 which involved other countries and a professional firm like IMG. They called it Professional Cricket League. There would be some foreign cricketers presence in this BCCI league which should add color(literally) and variety to the cricket played. The same professionalism and quality will gradually be moved over to the domestic ODIs and test matches to be played.
It does not matter whether BCCI wins this battle or ICL manages to squeak in the glory; the obvious winner is Indian cricket. BCCI had done nothing to the game but to update their personal passbooks. Money that came from the game was not spent for the game which is ideal scenario but was used for personal satisfaction. Finally, we can see a small fraction of the BCCI money spent on cricket. It has already announced 200 crores for training facilities.
Kudos to ICL for initiating a revolution in Indian cricket history. There is no doubt on my mind that Subhash Chandra is set to face the biggest loss of his business life through ICL but he has done a great favor which should be recorded in the history books.
The reports regarding 8 Hyderabad players who aligned with ICL would have come as a jolt for the BCCI. Not all those who signed up for the rebel league are ageing stars, the list includes future Indian team probables as well. There are several other reports making rounds regarding several other young promising stars waiting to sign up for ICL.
