England plans EPL to take on IPL
Perturbed by the soaring popularity of IPL much before the tournament has begun and shocked by the tendency to even shun playing for the country to exploit IPL riches, the England and Wales Cricket Board may soon set up an English Premier League (EPL) Twenty20, on the lines of IPL. Incidentally, IPL is modelled on the lines of English Premier League football championship!
The EPL will have 18 counties and some overseas teams. Media reports also said one team would probably be the IPL winners.
The tournament may see its inaugural edition by 2010. ECB is also considering two Twenty20 tournaments. But the main issue would be the availability of players in the event of a second Twenty20, wqhich would definitely clash with ICC’s Futures Tours Programme, which decides tour schedules by various playing nations. Another headache for ICC?