Cricket Australia, other countries to explore IPL model
Taking a cue from the huge success of IPL, other cricket playing nations are also contemplating similar cricket events. Cricket Australia is considering such an avenue.
They are now watching the Indian Premier League and England’s answer to it for clues as to whether a franchised competition would work in Australia.
There are enough hints that the Cricket Board in Australia would come out with a number of Twenty20 internationals in the next summer. Cricket Australia general manager, Michael Brown, said that a franchise system would be considered in Australia if it could help attract new fans to the game.
The new plan by the Board will be incorporated in the remodeled program for 2008-09 to be released shortly. It is said that Australia is determined to keep its head as cricket’s new revolution, Twenty20, gains pace. Australians have voted with their feet and their remote controls to endorse the shortest form of the game, said an office bearer of Cricket Australia. The fixture for Twenty20 would be within International Cricket Council guidelines. As many Australians players are taking part in the ongoing $1 billion IPL , it has gained lot of momentum among Australian viewers.
Though English players were prevented from taking part in the cash-rich IPL, the tournament is being enthusiastically followed in England.
It is learnt that a Texan billionaire Allen Stanford is considering backing a franchised league, similar to the IPL. It is learned that Cricket Australia is now in discussion with some investors interested in franchise model of cricket clubs.
There are also chances that other prominent cricket playing nations such as New Zealand, South Africa, Srilanka and Pakistan would soon explore options to start franchisee-based Twenty20 matches.