BCCI has instructed to all of its players and affiliated units to not participate in any tournament or match which doesn’t have its approval. In the same meeting BCCI has denied the approval to the ICL league announced by Subhash Chandra, who heads the Essel Group, owners of the Zee brand.
It also debarred member associations, present or former players deriving monetary or other benefits from the board including the welfare schemes from associating themselves in any manner with the organisation and conduct of such unapproved tournaments/matches, which means the monthly pension that stands approximately Rs 35,000 is now no longer serve to Kapil Dev and Kiran More and so would be in the case of Sandeep Patil.
The BCCI circular said,
No office bearer or member of any affiliated unit, member of the board, member of any committee or sub-committee of the board should associate in any manner with the individuals or organizations conducting or planning to conduct such tournaments or matches
Until now, Formal captain Kapil Dev and ex wicket-keeper Kiran More have joined the ICL board, while Sandeep Patil was roped in as a coach.
The organizers are yet to confirm the participation of Shane Warne, Brian Lara, Glenn McGrath, Nathan Astle and Chris Cairns.
Denial from BCCI, but approval from NZCPA
New Zealand Cricket Players Association (NZCPA) have already given green signal to their cricketers willing to play in the ICL League, provided they do not cut across their contractual obligations with the national body.
NZCPA manager Heather Mills was quoted by the ‘New Zealand Herald’ as saying,
Players would need to seek a clearance (from NZC), and that clearance cannot be unreasonably withheld, Our players are individual contractors, not employees, so as long as you’re able to fulfil your obligations to NZC you can go and play for another entity.
Unanswered Questions
- Reactions of the cricket authorities of other countries
- What would be the equation of ICC and ICL?
- Will ICC consider it as First Class Cricket?
