> Lara in ICL wow

Agnel

Brian Lara has become the first big-name signing for the Indian Cricket League, which announced today that it has also contracted former Indian allrounder Madan Lal to coach its Delhi team and Balwinder Singh Sandhu as director of academies.

Lara, who retired from international cricket after the World Cup earlier this year, said he looked forward to playing with promising youngsters and to captaining one of the teams. "You can't keep me too far from cricket and hence I return to the game in this exciting new avatar", Lara said in a statement issued by the Essel Group, promoters of the ICL.

Lara's joining the ICL had first been reported in May and at the time the names of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath had also been linked with the league.

Source

Damn, this BCCI can't help improve cricket in india.

ICL

xXx

Gr8 news for youngsters.......Hurray Zee Group !!!

Safin

As much as ZEE is trying to say that it wants to help the Indian cricket the fact is their interest is to provide something for the two channels they have(Ten Sports and Zee Sports)Currently there is absolutely no programming on Zee sports while ten sports is missing most of Indian cricket action now that espn/star has bagged the icc cricket rights too.
While thats not something to crib about, all companies come into a field to make money, but i would doubt how much they actually want to help cricket rather than get back at BCCI for canceling the Indian TV rights last year.
The problems for ICL are
1) they don't have any stadiums. All the stadiums are affiliated currently to BCCI.
2) BCCI has said that those who play for ICL will be de-recognized(so say goodbye to India team selection)
3) ICC has gone on record to say that they recognize only BCCI.

So what can ICL do?

(Jagmohan Dalmiya was looking for employment last i checked up on him

xXx

But I guess.....BCCI would be hard pressed to hire players from the ICL if the names like BLara, Warne etc joined the forces.....The public would be watchin the matches of ICL so that wud make BCCI a loser a sort of....coz the players they pick up from NCA arent performing !!!

Safin

to watch matches, you first need the stadium
And remember all these are oldies. How many present day Indian cricketers are gonna sign up is still an open question. Fact is in India, not many will turn out to see newbies who will not get a chance to play in the Indian colours.

Agnel

Agreed that ICL is trying to make money, still it is trying to help indian cricket in the process. What it should do it try to work with BCCI which it isn't allowing for reasons so blatantly known.

I would love to see them investing more in stadiums and a good plan for cricket.
they should force ICC to make BCCI work with them. thats the only way out.

Safin

See these are some hard facts
1) Zee can do this. They need massive investments.
2) Icc will go where the money is. If ICL offers more, they will affiliate with ICL.
3) Zee needs to do things better. Start by making better stadiums and more importantly the turf and pitches. Lets have some solid inter state 20-20's. Give free tickets to college/school kids. I don't know why it does not happen in India. If inter state thing kicks off Cricket is gonna get real popular. (as if it isnt already

)

It requires strong commitment though.

Agnel

free tickets to kids?
they won't need it. they will buy to watch cricket

Strong commitment. Only if a few players can step up and contribute. it will help

Sandeep

He he... U guys still watch cricket!