Kapil urges BCCI to welcome ICL for game's benefit

Guwahati, May 25 (UNI) Indian Cricket League's (ICL) Chairman Kapil Dev today urged the BCCI to welcome the ICL for the benefit of the game in the country, claiming the breakway league has no intentions to confront the Board.

''It is not a rebel cricket league, nor does it have any intention to confront or undermine the authority of the BCCI,'' the all-rounder told mediapersons here.

''ICL is merely a new process to make cricket look nicer, better, competitive and ultimately produce more cricketers for the country,'' he added.

Kapil also clarified that the main aim of the Zee Group backed ICL is to create a talent pool of players for Indian cricket, improve the domestic circuit and provide quality facilities and infrastructure to both players and fans.

The 'Haryana Hurricane' who was here under the capacity of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) chairman, to inaugurate the Cricket Academy of the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) said he had no tussle with the BCCI as the NCA chairman post is honourary.

''There is no conflict of interest with BCCI and the post of the NCA is purely honorary. Both NCA and ICL are set to improve cricket in this country,'' Kapil said.

He also welcomed the entry of private entities into the nation's cricket saying, ''For players like me, more private groups coming into the game are a welcome development. More money flowing into the game would help the players.'' Apart from Kapil, the ICL executive board includes former England captain Tony Greig who was earlier associated with Kerry Packer Series, former Aussie cricketer-turned-commentator Dean Jones and Kiran More, the former head of selection committee.

The ICL to be launched later this year would have six newly-created teams for the first season, growing to 16 by the third year. Each team will comprise of four overseas cricketers apart from two Indian internationals and eight youngsters.

The league would be played in Twenty20 format for the first year, and move to the ODI version later.

UNI