BCCI offers amnesty for ICL players..

According to Cricinfo, BCCI is offering amnesty for ICL players, They can think about it and return to domestic cricket before 31st may.. I must say BCCI did great job to overpower ICL..Full story below..

The BCCI has announced an "amnesty" for all Indian players associated with the ICL and said they could return to official cricket if they cut all ties with the unofficial private league by May 31. The players who choose to return to the official fold will be eligible to play international cricket after a 'cooling period' of a year, but can play domestic cricket from June 1, when the ICC's new rules on official and unofficial cricket come into force.

It's learnt that other national boards who have banned their ICL players from official cricket are expected to follow suit. The Indian board announced its decision after a meeting of its working committee in Mumbai.

"A lot of cricketers and support staff with the ICL met us and informed us that it was a mistake committed by them in joining the ICL and they want to return to the BCCI," Shashank Manohar, the BCCI president, said. "They will be allowed to play domestic cricket immediately. "

Hemang Badani and Rohan Gavaskar, two of the ICL's leading Indian players, called the BCCI's offer a "positive decision" and good for the players. Badani said that he decide within a week whether to return to the fold.

"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," Badani told Cricinfo. "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."

However, Badani, who plays for Chennai Superstars, said he would weigh his options carefully before taking a decision. "The BCCI's offer is a very good thing because a lot of us, especially the young guys, were in a dilemma about where to go. But I am not going to jump the gun just yet and will take at least a week to take a decision."

Gavaskar, who plays for Royal Bengal Tigers, said he hoped the ICL would not come in the way of players who wish to represent their country.

"It is a positive decision because the BCCI is giving the ICL player an option," Gavaskar told Cricinfo. "If they don't make use of this option they can't blame BCCI in future. Also the ICL had said initially when they were recruiting players that they would not come in the way of a player if he gets a chance to play for the country."

Source:Cricinfo

[Raghav_K]

They ve decided to crush ICL totally... I dont think anyone's gonna play in ICL anymore... Read on paper, that even a domestic player can earn 15 lac per season, and added to that, they'll get a chance to play in ipl if they come back

[sjstays]

BCCI doesnt care a thing for the players, they just want to crush ICL and shove then out of their way. But this is a very positive development for the players like rohan gavasker and A rayudu. these guys still have in them to contest for a berth in the national team.

ICL should be there. They made IPL a reality. Otherwise, it will be like having only BSNL mobile in the market.

[Rameshjeee]

Originally Posted by meetdilip

ICL should be there. They made IPL a reality. Otherwise, it will be like having only BSNL mobile in the market.

Originally Posted by meetdilip

ICL should be there. They made IPL a reality. Otherwise, it will be like having only BSNL mobile in the market.

Well said bro..

[itsmemad]

Now many cricketers from NZ, Pak and other countries will be back to represent their country... India will face stiffer competition in international games... Good for spectators... I want to see Shane Bond bowling at Sachin Tendulkar!

Somehow i'm feeling bad for ICL

[itsmemad]

Lol.. Why? Do you get some share? I'm sure you and others never watched ICL with as much interest as you have for IPL... So why care for them? As audience, we want entertainment value... which never happened with ICL is 2-3 tournaments they organized... And players are gonna have a chance to choose finally... which is quite fair now...

Originally Posted by itsmemad

Lol.. Why? Do you get some share? I'm sure you and others never watched ICL with as much interest as you have for IPL... So why care for them? As audience, we want entertainment value... which never happened with ICL is 2-3 tournaments they organized... And players are gonna have a chance to choose finally... which is quite fair now...

I just hope i get some share ... Nevertheless i do watch ICL but not like IPL, There were definately some good match... From my take they(ICL) took initiative to give audience some entertainment, but they didn't get any support from BCCI or ICC, Had their been some support, ICL would be HIT..But again who(BCCI in this case ) don't want to make money.... IPL is hit because they sign current players and ICL tried to rejuvenate players life by giving them chance but they're backstabbing them(ICL).. I'm not saying that players shouldn't back off but that was unethical and that's why i'm feeling bad for ICL... BTW ICL comes up with statement that boycotting will not be easy for players, they are bound with legal notice... Let's see what new drama would be

[itsmemad]

Well, The ICL was established to challenge BCCI... It was rebellion in nature from the start! I still remember Subhash Chandra jumping in the media with his ICL plans... So its no surprise that BCCI has taken tough stance against it... Had they taken BCCI and ICC in confidence before starting ICL, situation might have been different for them today... But they directly challenged BCCI... So, BCCI and ICC have every right to defend their business and cricketing interests...

What will happen if such rebel leagues start mushrooming in every nation? Cricket will suffer in terms of Tests and ODI's... Players will start playing for those leagues who will be there only to make money through 20-20s... Players will ignore international matches to play for the leagues... Do we want to put final nail on the coffins of already dying test cricket?

Try to put yourselves in players situation who don't get any chance to play Test/ODI's, they naturally go for something else(ICL in initial phase).. I don't know about ICL strategy but they also start this thing to make money, Who don't, BCCI makes money but thing is that BCCI doesn't let anyone make money..

I admit ICL was flop, But what BCCI did was obviously not ethical...Also i don't blame BCCI either because it's dirty business game... Soon America is willing to start APL..Let's see how BCCI take guard

[itsmemad]

Originally Posted by gothic_coder

Try to put yourselves in players situation who don't get any chance to play Test/ODI's

Now BCCI has come up with IPL to answer that question..

P.S.- I'm not contesting the fact that they hijacked the idea from ICL.

Originally Posted by itsmemad

Now BCCI has come up with IPL to answer that question..

P.S.- I'm not contesting the fact that they hijacked the idea from ICL.

BCCI was never going to organize IPL at that time(May be after some time), BCCI only want to suppress ICL... So they started IPL...And that was good for us .. Receiving unlimited entertainment.... lolz...

P.S
BTW when is ICL new season commencing??

P.S of P.S
Will ICL Continue now??

[itsmemad]

Originally Posted by gothic_coder

BTW when is ICL new season commencing??

I heard that its scheduled to take place in coming October... It had been cancelled once in March-April 2009 due to recession...

Originally Posted by gothic_coder

Will ICL Continue now??

It will be tough for them... As noted in the article above - players are unsatisfied due to lack of cricket and non-payment!