Good news, bad news - Alternate Reality at Cricinfo

Coming to the cricket, it�..s been great to hit a few in the middle again, and to get out on to the field. The camp is in full swing, and we�..re really being put through our paces and working out the kinks. We even had our first practice game yesterday, and the thrill of returning to a match environment was fantastic. The action is getting closer, and the momentum is building up. All of us are striving to get into top gear at the right time. All the challenges we face, like not enough access to grounds and practice facilities - most of them are controlled by the BCCI and hence unavailable to us - only make us more determined and make us work harder, and I�..m sure the results will be there for all to see when the tournament gets underway. For starters, we have the 20-over tournament for the domestic players beginning tomorrow in Bangalore and Hyderabad. It�..s a great opportunity for the younger players to impress and stake a claim for places in the first team before the internationals arrive. I�..m certain it�..ll keep us experienced players on our toes as well. I�..ll be keeping you updated with all the action from the field, and my thoughts on all that�..s happening off the field too, so I hope you�..ll be with me all the way.

Glad to see that the ICL is still alive and kicking (sand in the BCCI's face). Don't worry guys, it's only a matter of time befor Modi-mania will wear off, and the sensible people will let you back into the fold. Trust the BCCI to make playing cricket a crime.

I was a keen watcher of the tournament last year and it was great. I enjoyed it. Besides that tournament encouraged people to go for the IPL and so the ICL should take credit for that. The whole fault with the current controversy lies with Mody & Co. I just cannot understand why two tournaments cannot go together with the BCCI supporting it. It only means more entertainment for the public. Keep going Hemang all the best for the future.

I love cricket whether its a 20/20,oneday or Test match, I dont miss any match to watch either is ICC/IPL or ICL. I dont like the way ICL is being treated, why politicy is crept into this issue. Today with the emergence of ICL atleast ppl have got hope and oppertunity to try out alternare careers in sports. Earlier the name and fame that was available to only to playing 14 or 16 players now atleast ICL has extended it to common mass purely based on talents. Though its had big international name in it but none of them performed well in the 1st season but I can understand there presence as there presence shows the presence of ICL in common mass. I am sure ICC will grant ICL a official status as ICL is just promoting sports like Ranji or County and giving playes a safe future. I bet friend its a matter of time. ICL doesnot need any support but just trying to make the choice for younger generation easier to OPt for ICL or IPL. I think if both are there then we will rule the world

The ICL players should rid themselves of this persecution complex they have. They have a good thing going for themselves and yet keep having a whinge at the BCCI. I work for a hospital, and I know it wouldn't be welcome by them if I hopped into the competing hospital down the road for a part time job off hours. Its simple common sense. Why do the ICL players want to dip their hands both into the ICL and the BCCI coffers? Man up and stop whinging about lack of practice facilities. There are lakhs of kids in the country who have no access to cricket grounds for even recreation purposes. Atleast you guys have a media moghul providing you facilities.

Hemang, Machan dont worry. I have been a keen follower of ur cricketing career from Santhome school, Viveka, TN Ranji team, India A, India and now ICL. I know you have been very unlucky not to have played for India too long. Partly because of the Fab Four and partly because of selection policy against TN. You also got injured during key time(s). Dont worry about all these now. Continue playing well for ICL and I am sure Kapil Paaji would help ICL get official recognition. All the Modis, Shahs and Pawars have never played cricket and dont understand a cricketer. They are all about Money and Money only. So forget these supposedly guardians of Indian Cricket and play with your head held high. All the Best for the new season Machan. Poondhu Vilayadu Mappilai.

By not supporting ICL, BCCI is just proving that they are dead hungry for money and nothing else. If they are here for the betterment of Indian cricket, they would have gladly accepted the ICL. Being an Indian it really hurts when we lag behind in all fields ONLY, ONLY and ONLY due to aristocrats like Sharad Powar.

BCCI is absolutely right in not recognizing ICL. ICL has nothing to do with cricket. It is an initiative of a disgruntled media person who behaved like a loser as he did not get the TV rights for indian cricket and hence felt he is losing out on a money making opportunity. That is all. As for people who believe it is sand in BCCI's face that ICL is still running, including Hemang Badani, well, stop watching 'Indian' cricket. It can do without you people. We have an ICL World which is retired people, ICL Pakistani who are discards and ICL Indians who are not good enough to be in the proper indian team. And yes, the ICL indians is NOT the proper indian team and contrary to what people think ICL pakistani people came to ICL because they were discarded by PCB and not the other way round. So better start accepting some realities.

The BCCI is a bunch of greedy, power hungry thugs who think they can bully the rest of the world. India is supposed to be a free market. Both BCCI and ICL are offering the same product - that is, entertainment through cricket. Playing for 'India' is not the same as representing India, players are basically playing for BCCI XI. So, playing for ICL is no shame and playing for BCCI isn't a matter of prestige either. Players' sporting life is limited and they should be allowed access to all possible playing avenues without any restrictions.

Well done Hemang. Good articles to start off with. Please do write more on how things are being handled better in ICL. It was always a pleasure watching you bat and I am sure it will be the same reading your articles.

Good Luck for the new season.

First of all, good luck to Hemang and the ICL, We understand your situation and we are with you , now give us a good spectacle !

As an Indian, the whole Modi-BCCI buffonery has left me ashamed and left me feeling vengeful and full of wrath, how dare they prevent players from representing their club/states/nation, how dare they bring such acrimony to this beautiful game. These arrogant clowns deserve in the slap in the face from the SL board (kudos to them for barking at the big bad wolf), What I fail to comprehend is how the other nations/players are a party to this debauchery, why not stage a mass protest against the BCCI after all it is your own brethern thats being wronged, Shame on you all and shame on the BCCI

In the above comment from Sundar,says "ICL is about Money making due to lose of TV rights".I m wondering what BCCI has done successfully in IPL than money making.Does it help at any cost for the Indian team members or organizing the pitch in our subcontinent.The only major gain from IPL is that BCCI showed how much power it has and how much influence it has in world cricket. Cricket is called Gentleman game and it should be applicable to BCCI board members too as they are involving into world cricket.Why BCCI wants to ban the players who take part in the ICL.Let them give a proper chance and make them into their part.I never seen ,BCCI has helped cricket players in rural areas.May be for eye-wash they may have an record of investing the money into growth of cricket in rural areas. With that money earned by BCCI,what they have done to improve our cricket or will they helped other growing cricket nations???BCCI has become major,bcos of India producing lot of money than any other country.

Well, the ICL is a great place to expose young guys to international experience, but it also is a source greed for youngsters. There comes a danger that children start to dream of playing for ICL and forget the country. And there is a difference between the IPL and ICL, whenever I watched the ICL, I thought that "Right now, I am watching the ICL". But whenever I saw the IPL I always felt that "I am watching the match between Rajasthan Royals and Knight Riders etc, but never thought that I am watching the IPL". The IPL created a sense of unity among the people who supported their teams, some people support the ICL but not its teams.

I'm certainly looking foward to the new season and hoping to see more boards follow the Sri Lankan boards steps and allow their players to play in the ICL. Players should be free to play where they wish, especially since the ICL is more respectful to international games than the IPL.

Sundar, just because players are in the ICL does not mean they are not as good or maybe even better than those on BCCI backed teams. The Pakistani and Bangladeshi players joined ICL teams because they were treated with more respect. If you disagree with this, please explain why a large chunck of the Bangladesh national team would come to the ICL if the financial rewards were pretty much the same.

The BCCI's attempt to stranglehold the cricket market and force all boards to follow their instructions is dispicable. They couldn't care less about the quality of cricket so long as they are profiting from it. Or else, they would have welcomed the ICL to encourage domestic competition amoungst the players.

Sundar, so what if ICL Indians and ICL Pakistanis are not the "proper" national time. Can that be the basis to exclude a player from making a living from all other forms and levels of the game? Who gives BCCI the authority to do that? I for one, would like to see teams at all levels picked on merit instead of political biases.

this rebel league is rightly banned by BCCI. if I am in an organization like BCCI, i would definitely do the same. although it gives careers to these players, they shouldn't ask BCCI to support it as its BCCI's internal matter whether to support it or not. On the other side, this whole ICL thing was created by one man's ego to make more money out of tv rights and nothing to improve the game. tell me any good it has done for the improvement of cricketers in the country other than making them rebels?

dear hemang,it is heartening to see that icl is doing so well.i am very glad with the srilankan board for lifting the ban of their players.thats the difference of a body run by cricketers and ours run by people who have never picked a bat.i hope and will pray that the other associations follow suit.
very happy to hear that you have got a team from dhaka as well.more teams more competition and more quality cricket to watch.looking forward to some awesome cricket.
it's good to hear that you guys are raring to go.good luck to you and the icl.you guys are trendsetters and an example to other mere mortals.keep swimming against the tide our good wishes and prayers are always there with you.good luck

Hemang, I am a big fan of u. I had wished u in KSCA once, i was delighted to shake hands wid u. Itz really wonderful to read a piece of u. The problem with the ICL w.r.t. IPL is the Television channel on which matches are telecast. Thye should have used Tens sports for better viewership. By the way am still puzzled by the way u were sidelined from the national team, not many players have scored a century against Aussies. My all time fav cricketer is VVS and next comes you. I hope to see u in cricketing arena in any forms/league and not quit the game. Please concentrate on lengthy innings and not a cameo. Hope to have ur reply Hemang...

The BCCI now have a monopoly over cricket. I think things will change in the next 5 years drastically because anyone with power will abuse it with time. Even the Roman Empire has fallen, so it is only a matter of time. Cheers and good luck this season.

I guess nobody from the ICL expects BCCI to "support" it. All they expect is for the BCCI not to actively oppose it. The BCCI is all powerful thanks to the millions of viewers in India and not because it produces the best cricketing teams or has the best infrastructure. The BCCI has no right to behave like it owns cricket.

On SL lifting the ban on ICL cricketers playing domestic cricket, I am not able to fathom how BCCI can act like an aggrieved party. If it is an issue of "Unauthorised Cricket", then it is the ICC that should be making media statements that SLC would be taken to task and not BCCI.

Anyway, good luck to Hemang and the others. I hope the matter is brought to court soon and justice served.

Hemang, it's always great to know the players' perspective on the row between Subhash Chandra's ICL and BCCI's ICL. At the root of it, players want to play cricket and the administrators want to make money. And in our country the administers hold sway always. We need a strong Players' Association that can take on the administrators and till that day our players will continue to struggle. Irrespective of whether the player belongs to IPL or ICL, we need to have a Players Association that can sort out all problems for the players that is not cricket and let them concentrate on their livelihood - cricket.

- Goutham Chakravarthi LS

hay brother, first of all congrats doing a great job. going thru all the posting it is so heart melting to hear so much support and the craze for cricket. I think u should send a copy of all the posting to BCCI they need to grow up man.I have always been proud of my country and the BCCI, but banning the ICL i am ashamed.

Some candid thoughts on the ICL.
1. Kapil Dev is India's greatest cricketer ever. But he talks a load of bull crap.
2. The quality of cricketers on show at the ICL is substandard to say the least. Ageing stars, unknown cricketers from the domestic circuit and mediocre "international" cricketers make up the ICL.
3. Can somebody explain how the Dhaka warriors will add lustre to this lacklustre league? I dont even have to comment on the ability and quality of players like Bashar and Tapash Baishya. Bangladesh are still in the Elite group of test playing nations only because of the backing of the other teams from the subcontinent.
4. What would you prefer - Watch players like Dhoni, Yuvraj, Sehwag, Hussey, Ponting..OR the unknowns and the unwanted from the ICL.

Wake up ICL. You cannot compete with the IPL given the kind of "quality" you possess.

I agree with Hemang. Why should only a bunch of cricketers out of the 1 billion population we have get a chance to make a living. People who do not support ICL dont think that what will happen if there is one company in India and every one is trying to get a job in it. Its even more complex then that because you only get couple of chances to stay in the team. I think there should be more opportunities for cricketers to earn respectable living and ICL is providing them that. I have been a cricketer and I know how hard it is to break into a Under 16 or 19 team. Hemang, Dinesh, Razzaq are fine cricketers and I am sure they have worked hard enough to earn the money they are getting from ICL. I see some guys writing words like Mediocre, unknown etc. I am sure they dont even know how to hold a bat straight and they must be TV cricketers. So get real guys...because our nation will only grow if we learn to give opportunities.

I am an avid fan and enjoyed watching the previous version of ICL, espeically the Finals and the bowlout. The quality was certainly there and some (unknown) players displayed grit and determination. Selection to the National Teams should be on merit; not by their representation in a particular league. Those who played for Chennai Superkings in IPL are heading easily into the Team. Honestly, even with leading foreign players, many matches in IPL were drab.

Competition in any form needs encouragement. I wish that meritorious from ICL are also recognised. I have watched you (Badani) play in Chennai league and but for the injuries, you should have played longer for the National Team. Kapil is the best All rounder ever and he is very candid. Wishing the Tournament and YOU all success.

With regards - S Sampathkumar

Like Hemang, me too one in billion who loves this game of cricket.... Its time to grab the oppurtunity by recognising ICL, which will create a great platform for the players, the audience and of course for the game itself. The more the oppurtunities for the players, more the competition, more the money and it will be good for everybody who loves this game.Its hi-time that BCCI and ICC forget whether for good or bad, why ICL has been started. One suggestion to the ICL committee is to make the tournament more viewable as even many of them like me to view but not able to make it bcoz of many hurdles like Conditional Access System applicable in Metro cities.. If they think upon solution on this , am sure that the TRP's defenitely will go up... Let's hope ICL's recognised and more quality action continues...

I have been a keen follower of the ICL's 2 seasons so far and I must say it is very impressive.The glorious sight of Brian Lara making his mark in T20, Shabbir Ahmed's hat-trick in the inaugural season,Satish's brilliant catch in the boundary and many others deserve special mention.

Rather than having a separate team for Bangladesh,I feel it's better to have another Indian club with some of the Bangladeshi players slotted into that and some others into the Giants,Superstars,Rockets etc.This way they will get to learn from other experienced players like Harris,Cairns,Martyn,Gillespie etc.This would be one way Bangladeshis can become aggressive.This is a much better option since Bangladesh don't have many remarkable players to boast of.

Some people think ICL is discarded player, it is untrue. Some of the player is as good as current BCCI players. If ICL is useless than why BCCI bothered by them. ICL is competitive my friends. Let�..s have 20/20 5 matches between ICL-all star and IPL-all-star. I bet you ICL will give IPL a run!
Lalit Modi are you ready for challenge? Lalit , Niranjan and Pawar you guys are pathetic. You are the biggest enemy of cricket in India.

Hemang, really good to see that ICL is back with its second season something i`ve been expecting it for a long time now, ever since it was started i`ve followed it with keen interest be it on tv or online. I`ve enjoyed watchin players like Ganapati Vignesh(My Favorite), Rajagopal Satish(Another Fav. and wat a talent),Ali Murtaza, Ibrahim Khalleil and many more, i can keep naming them does any1 think if not for ICL these talents would`ve even had a chance to shine, I don`t think so . Kudos to Kapil and ppl at Zee and also to all the former cricketers aligned with the ICL and these are the true ppl who really want the Domestic cricket in India to move up the next level and expose young talent to the world and improve their level of cricket. Congrats on getting the new team from Dhaka, atleast now Bangladesh will their due. Hemang, so all the best keep it going and pls bring the 20-20 cup back to chennai. Finally Plz Ask ZEE to telecast the domestic 20-20 also.