20:20 Tournament

The inaugural season of the Indian Cricket League (ICL) will host a 20:20 tournament. Fans will brace the exciting competition which will comprise of twenty matches, with the final on December 16.

What is 20:20?

It is a trimmed down version of One Day Internationals in which each team bats for a maximum of only 20 overs. This type of game has been popular in English amateur cricket since 1960s.

A 20:20 game is completed in about three hours. Each innings lasts approximately 75 minutes. This format brings a cricket match closer to the time span of other immensely popular team sports such as football.

20:20 tournaments make cricket more lively and increase the attraction of the spectators at the ground and viewers on television towards the sport. Initial response to this format of the game has been very successful. The 20:20 format is not intended to replace other forms of the game like Test cricket and One Day Internationals and these will continue to coexist side by side.

South Africa Board Vs ICL (Indian Cricket League)

Gerald Majola, the CSA chief has warned players that joining the Indian Cricket League will not be tolerated. This follows moves by the Indian board and New Zealand cricket to outlaw players who join the rebel league.

“Once they have played even one game in the ICL tournament, it’s over and they will never be allowed to play in South Africa again,” Majola told the Beeld newspaper. He had also stated that if players cancelled their contracts with the ICL, they could be eligible to play for the Proteas again.

Referring to the ICL as a “breakaway organisation,” Majola cited players who join as “rebels” and issued a firm warning that even domestic cricket will not open its doors to them.

New Definition For Cricket - ICL (Indian Cricket League)

Every format of Cricket is changing. Now no one can predict the future of cricket. The latest invention of Cricket world is 20 - Twenty cricket. That became a huge success and sure that future belongs on that shorter version.

But now there is a new era emerging in the name of ICL - Indian Cricket League. It looks like a big competitor to the biggest cricket board in the World - BCCI. BCCI now doing every thing to keep the ICL down ie. they even give warning to the players on country to be ban from every cricket competitions. But the ICL got justice from Indian court legally and succeeded to lift that BAN policy. BCCI now trying to develop a new cricket format in India ( IPL ) which is they going to use against ICL on future days.

18 MORE CRICKETERS JOINED IN THE INDIAN CRICKET LEAGUE.

Unfazed by BCCI's ambitious and cash-rich twenty20 tournaments, the rebel Indian Cricket League announced the signing of 18 more players, including six overseas cricketers.

After lying low for several weeks, the ICL came out with its second list of players, which included four from New Zealand -- Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Nathan Astle, Hamish Marshal, while England's Darren Maddy and Pakistan all rounder Azhar Mahmood.

Kapil Dev, Chairman of the Executive Board for the ICL said, "we are extremely pleased to welcome these players to the ICL family. These talented experienced cricketers will definitely be a great source of learning for the youngsters who will play with them. Under their guidance, the Indian Cricket League players will develop skills comparable to the best of international cricketing talent."

The ICL, a brainchild of the Subhash Chandra-owned Essel Group, has earlier signed over 60 cricketers with batting great Brian Lara and former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq in its ranks.

"These signings are in line with our objective of providing the best platform for young cricketers from all corners of India to play alongside the superstars of international cricket, learn the tricks of the trade from them and gain confidence to excel."

51 players join the Indian Cricket League

The Indian Cricket League, an Essel Group venture, has announced the names of 51 players who have joined the league. It comprises national and international players, most of whom represent their countries and states at the highest level. They have been chosen in a nationwide hunt and selection process.

A Talent Search Committee, comprising ICL executive board members, coaches and talent scouts of the Indian Cricket League, selected these players. Some of the international players who have joined the team include Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf Abdul Razzaq, Imran Farhat, Lance Klusener and Nicky Boje.

The Indian players who have been signed up include Dinesh Mongia, Reetinder Singh Sodhi, JP Yadav, Deep Dasgupta, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, T Kumaran and U19 captain Ambati Rayudu, all of whom have represented India in the past.

Announcing the signing up of these players, Mr Himanshu Mody, Project Head for the Indian Cricket League, said, “These players will join the six teams of the inaugural Indian Cricket League. They will be provided with necessary infrastructure, guidance and training to compete at the highest level.”

He said, “We believe that each of these players represent the best of cricketing talent in the country and internationally. We will continue to search for more talent with killer instinct that can take India to the next level. We now see the teams that will play in the ICL tournament later this year, finally taking shape.”

Kapil Dev, Chairman-Executive Board, Indian Cricket League, said, “we are sure that with these players’ capabilities, we will have an exciting tournament ahead.”

Indian Cricket League Vs BCCI

The battle between the BCCI and the Zee group-backed ICL is getting more interesting than the Cricket itself. The BCCI is suitably miffed at the cricketers that have signed up for the ICL and this was evident from the latest brickbat from the BCCI, this time from the President Mr Sharad Pawar himself:

“Not many people are interested in watching retired players in action. Everyone wants to see official cricket, not the oldies. I see no reason for young players going there. Only those who play official cricket can represent India.”

Yeah, right! Try telling that to the domestic players who have been slogging it out for a place in the Indian eleven only to be left out. And who would not want to watch Brian Lara play his trademark shots? That said, the ICL sleuths has not been having a great time either. Kapil Dev, ICL’s Chairman, had to eat his own words when Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne denied having signed up for the league.

Personally, I don’t have much expectation from the league and I doubt Zee’s ability to promote the thing. But it will become really interesting if it does well since it will challenge BCCI’s monopoly over Indian Cricket. Maintaining its tradition of greediness,the BCCI has already announced that any young player joining ICL will not be considered for the India cap. I feel this move will not work for long if ICL succeeds. Therefore, BCCI will have to come up with some more innovative moves to suppress the competition, which I am sure it will. Till then, may the brickbats continue!

TOP COMMENTATORS FOR ICL 20-20 CRICKET

CHANDIGARH:The Indian Cricket League, an Essel Group venture, announced an impressive line up of commentators and experts for the ICL Twenty-20 Tournament starting at Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula from November 30. The commentators names announced include Tony Greig, Dean Jones, Pat Symcox, Jeffery Thomson, Mike Whitney and Ayaz Memon. Additionally Kapil Dev will be seen dawning a new role and be the co-commentator to provide expert insights and opinions on the matches.



Commenting on the line-up ICL Chairman-Executive Board Kapil Dev Nikhanj League said “to deliver the live experience to the audience, commentator’s role is of absolute importance and can’t be ignored. We have signed on some of the world’s best commentators and their vast cricketing experience will add a lot of value in providing a perspective to our cricket fans.”

Commenting on his association with ICL, Tony Greig, said, “I am excited to team up with Zee Sports for the upcoming ICL 20-20 Tournament and look forward to joining Kapil Dev with whom I have had lot of exciting, on-field rivalry. I am personally very happy to be a part of this initiative and I hope to add value through my understanding of the game. “

Renowned opening batsmen of Australia and cricket commentator Dean Jones said, “I am delighted to join ICL panel and team up with my old pals to share exciting, live update with the fan following across the world.”




TONY GREIG: England’s cricket captain from 1975 until 1977, Tony Greig led his country 14 times. He retired young, and immigrated to Australia, where he has had a successful career as an executive in the Packer organization and as a television commentator. Today one of the most recognizable and respected voices on Cricket broadcasts, Tony has the brilliant knack of bringing alive the furious excitement of live cricketing action.




JEFF THOMPSON: Initially a soccer player, ‘Thommo’ took a liking to cricket and went on to become a legend with his furiously fast bowling. He collided with team mate Alan Turner on the field when both went for the same catch and he was seriously injured, and plates and bolts were fitted into his shoulder, but despite the injury he fought his way back into the Australian team and along with Lillie hunted as one of the most lethal pair of fast bowlers of all time!



DEAN JONES: Jones one of Australia’s most successful batsmen of winning team, and was noted for his electric running between the wickets, outstanding out-fielding and aggressive batting especially against. With his positive, aggressive and flamboyant style of play he became a crowd favourite. He played a significant part in the ‘87 World Cup and ‘89 Ashes wins for the team. Turbulent stints as captain of Victoria and Derbyshire followed and he remained devoted to the game and since retirement has been a Commentator.



PAT SYMCOX: Symcox played first class cricket for South Africa for 21 years, having played in a staggering 20 Tests and 80 one-day internationals. He retired from cricket in 1999. Former South African cricketing great is a well-known critic of the ‘quota system’ that was introduced into South African cricket to benefit previously disadvantaged players.




MIKE WHITNEY: He is former Australian from 1981 to 1993.He was a commentator for The Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000, and the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Manchester.




KAPIL DEV: Arguably India’s greatest all-rounder and recently recognised as India’s greatest Cricketer with the Wisden Indian Cricketer of The Century award, Kapil Dev has charted the course of many famous Indian victories. Captaining India to win the Prudential Cup in 1983 was the highlight of his career. He also led India to a 2-0 series win to beat England in 1986. And, of course, at the top of his most spectacular unbeaten innings ranks his knock of 175 against Zimbabwe when India was on the route to the World Cup win in 1983.