DLF IPL Twenty20 not in ICC Futures Tour programme
The IPL will not be factored in the ICC Futures Tour programme, a decision that would mean that IPL editions would clash with various international cricket tours.
Many players have been demanding ICC to include IPL in its tours programme so that players’ national commitments do not clash with IPL editions. More than 90 international players from top cricketing nations have signed up for IPL, and the West Indian cricket board is already fearing that Chris Gayle (Kolkata Knight Riders), Ramnaresh Sarwan (Mohali IPL) and Shivnaraine Chanderpaul (Bangalore Knight Riders) may opt out of the upcoming Australia’s tour of West Indies to play in the cash rich IPL.
The ICC said it did not receive any request from IPL or BCCI to include it in Future Tours programme.
So as of now, the ICC is asserting that the national commitments would remain its priority but what happens after BCCI or IPL puts up a request to include remains to be seen in the wake of India’s clout in ICC. India’s I S Bindra was appointed as ICC’s principal advisor, a newly created post this week .
All ICC affiliated cricket boards can object to any player participating in IPL within two years of retirement. This is to prevent players from quitting national duties for the lucrative IPL.
An idiotic decision, that last one. Why should a player who does not want to play for pride and the nation stick to the national side? If the national side desperately wants such a player, then they should be the ones begging him to stay back. Demand and supply and all that, you know? Stupid bureaucrats would in ICC and national boards would prefer to artificially block them instead.
Players, if you feel like leaving the national side for money and better treatment, go and join the ICL. Dear God, I wish ICL gains traction soon.