Image via WikipediaECB is positioning itself as another power centre in the cricketing stakes.The stand-off between them and the BCCI regarding ICL tainted counties taking part in the Championship League, has left them fuming.
Emboldened by the assurance given by Australia and South Africa(ECB claims they have this assurance),they are threatening to conduct their own version of The Championship League in the Middle East this year.
However, there are three issues that stick out like sore thumbs.
One, Australia and South Africa along with the BCCI have clamped down heavily on ICL league participants.
So it is debatable what these two nations gain from going away from the IPL. If they were to join, it will purely be to spite BCCI, which does not make business sense.
Two, going by the current voting pattern in the ICC, the Asian block is strongly supportive of the BCCI and are doubtful to split and go with the ECB. This may leave the ECB short of teams.
Thirdly, this is the most important issue, is the participation of the English players themselves. If you go by why the players are stalling over signing of the central contracts ( they want the ECB to let them play the IPL tournament in full) and couple it with the reported confusion on sharing Stanford's money, it is unlikely that the players will ignore IPL. Knowing the penchant for the English players to go where there is money, we can be sure they will like to play in the IPL and also in similar ECB tournaments.This will defeat the very purpose of and leave ECB holding its limp member.
Having said that, the BCCI should compromise, because this development indicates that quiet a few ICC members are itching for a showdown and very soon another power centre may emerge.
How do you think the events will pan out?
12 comments:
The beauty of the IPL is that there is a "ready one billion cricket crazy market" for tapping and that is not immediately available elsewhere. I do see this threat as a way to achieve some compromise.
If the aussie and SA board stand with the ECB, the IPL stand will be reduced. All they need to do is schedule an alternate, well paying tournament in April-May 2009, and the stars cannot participate in the IPL...
RS,
I also see this as an negotiating tool.
The problem is the schedules are packed and everyone is fighting for the April May slot.
For the moment IPL reigns. But constant efforts will be made to start some other PLs to give s stiff competition. This will go on until finally the cricket gets buried and we will regret starting the IPL
R,
You are unduly pessimistic. We are talking about a game which has a minimum 200 years of history.
ottayan, for starters, at least the ECB will have a positioning. So, if the BCCI is perceived as the anti christ, then the ECB will be the anti anti christ.
NC,
ECB is positioning itself as body which will stand up against the BCCI.
Most probably Stanford's money is their fall back option.
i read somewhere ...i think on cric info...ca and sa have already bow towed to bcci...
yess...we are the pawar...opps...power...
Pan,
Even I read that. Then what is the support ECB is banking on?
actually they are readying themselves on how to lay down without hurting their egos...the draft is almost final...
it will start with 'in the interest of game...'
Ha!Ha! Pan, you mean, they have t their speech ready?
Otty if u had seen the empty stadium during the asia cup u will understand my point. And they are going to give 10000 free tickets for the finals. Today ODI is being played in empty grounds. Tomorrow it will be T20.
They did not meddle with 200 yrs of cricket for a long time in a big way. Most of the changes came during the last two decades or so.
R,
The ODI's are played in empty stadium's as the are inconsequential.
I am sure the stadiums will be full if it was a Pakistan/SL final.
Having said that, I agree that they are meddling too much with the game.
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