BCCI Throws ICL Players a Lifeline

In a welcomed move, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to offer amnesty to rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) players. The decision was taken by BCCI in their working committee meeting held on April 29, 2009 which will allow 80-odd Indian players to get back into the BCCI fold, but with a rider. All the ICL linked players and support staff can return to international cricket after observing a ‘cooling period’ of one year. However they are eligible to play domestic cricket starting June 1, 2009.

Announcing the decision at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, BCCI President Shashank Manohar said, “We are giving amnesty to all ICL players provided they sever all ties with the ICL by May 31 and come back to the board. The players are like our family members. Most of these players and support staff approached us asking to be allowed to return. They made some mistakes but they can still come back.”

Himanshu Mody, Business Head of ICL responding in favor of the players, said, “The ICL management has decided not to renew the contract of some of the ICL players and support staffs that have expired. As cricket professionals they are free to decide and explore their options.”

The positive move by BCCI has thrown a lifeline to the many players whose careers got stranded due to the cancellation of tournaments and sighted financial problems in this time of recession.

Pakistan and New Zealand stand to benefit most from the announcement. Pakistan had lost 20 of their players to the ICL and New Zealand lost the likes of Shane Bond, Craig McMillan and Darrell Tuffy to the rebel league. Surprisingly, the New Zealand cricket board has varied from the BCCI on the cooling period by waving it altogether, which could see Shane Bond in New Zealand colours as early as August for their Sri Lankan tour.

Hemang Badani, who played for the Chennai Superstars in ICL, said, “Some of us have been stuck with the ICL and not knowing where we are headed cricket-wise, especially after the March programme was cancelled. Some of the ICL money due to us was not coming through either, possibly due to the recession. But mostly some of us were frustrated because there just hasn’t been enough cricket for us in the ICL. Of course, we played some good cricket in the ICL but not the quantity we expected.”

Echoing a similar view Rohan Gavaskar said, “It is a positive decision because the BCCI is giving the ICL players an option. If they don’t make use of this option they can’t blame the BCCI in future.”