Lawyers set to cash in over ICL & IPL
It's been another serious week for cricket and a very busy one for the lawyers on the books of county clubs. As always, what one legal brain believes to be the truth another will dispute, and it won't be stopping here.
The set out on Wednesday its tough stance on the emerging Indian Twenty20 leagues.
A complex issue has everyone running around asking what if? There is so much uncertainty.
Whilst most attention has focused on what England's top players might do in the future, chief executives and coaches of the county teams have been trying to get to grips with who will and won't be available for them this season.
Pakistan fast bowler .
He had been given until June to prove his fitness following last year's serious shoulder injury but now they might have to search elsewhere for the second part of the campaign.
Rana must now consider whether or not he can afford to breach a contract he's signed with the unofficial rebel .
Should he take to the field under a three-year contract worth six figures next week it will signal the end of any future county or international career. Financially it's no contest.
I understand that the PCB have not yet told Mushtaq Ahmed and others under their jurisdiction whether they will have the important 'no objection certificates' to allow them to take part in the county cricket season withdrawn.
A final decision from Pakistan is expected a week on Saturday.
At Trent Bridge, promoted Nottinghamshire might have to agree to their overseas signing Dave Hussey taking part in the 'officially' backed Indian Premier League (IPL) and then join up with them later.
I'm sure they are very angry about the position they have been put in but at the same time they've enjoyed a good relationship with the Australian. No doubt they would love that to continue.
All players including English qualified who want to play domestic county cricket are now fully aware of .
Take part and your days of playing in any competition ratified by the ECB and or will be over.
The ECB will be throwing its weight and support behind all the counties signing players for 12-month contracts instead of the six or nine months which currently exist for most.
What could now happen to those individuals who took part in the ICL last October?
They include Vikram Solanki, Darren Maddy, Chris Read and Paul Nixon. Whilst the game in England might turn a blind eye to their involvement retrospectively in the context of playing county cricket the same might not be the case should the ICC and decide to hold a Twenty20 Champions trophy propsed for October this year or at any other time.
Teams or players associated with 'unrecognized competitions' may find themselves barred or not invited to compete for the world title.
A decision hasn't yet been taken and it must be stressed it's all speculation at the moment. The competition itself has not been secured. An ICC meeting in the middle of March should make all that clearer.
Whilst people like Solanki and co could well have no further part to play for England, their experience is very important to the younger players in their respective county teams. Their absence should they be disqualified will be heavily felt.
Again lawyers will be sharpening their minds and pens to take issue but I understand the game's authorities are confident they have the law on their side in deciding who can play in what. The chief executives I've spoken to are less certain.
There can be no doubt that county cricket will miss out on the established international names who will instead sign and play for the lucrative IPL.
But a warning to county clubs who may instead rush to sign 'Kolpak' players in their place - officials could have found a way to permanently ban such signings.
It's now being suggested that a European agreement between its member states and some African, Caribbean and Pacific nations only refers to trade issues and not individuals.
Therefore some players who qualify under this agreement would no longer be deemed as non-overseas. Any ruling to that effect would only apply to future deals and not those already made.
One view is that all those players demanding big money from the new leagues have made their names and therefore their 'value' playing international cricket and so the future of the international game is safe.
However what if stars are made and discovered by the television-driven new franchises alone? That would be altogether different.
This should not be treated as 'Armageddon' for county cricket in England but is the beginning of something new. Only those with a degree in law and confidence in handling a crystal ball can be certain what that will be.
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Well, at last we might have the opportunity to develop more home born players and support the England Test Team. County cricket in my mind has always been about this and the proliferation of second string overseas players is not helping England. In fact, neither is the proliferation of first string overseas players helping England as they get to learn about English conditions and abilities which often comes back to haunt us. Well done India for taking them away.
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Lets be honest here the whole thing going on in India could become good for the game there in the long run because its promoting competition, all be it if one is officially backed and the other isn't, Indians will be the winners in the end.
For me this whole contract wrangle with those agreeing to play in one of the leagues & county cricket is a bit silly to be fair, they are professionals afterall and they all have family they need to provide for, and for the good of the game in the long run, they'll help bring through the future of the game.
That brings me onto the idea of stopping any Enland & Wales based players from playing in one of these, don't the powers that be realise that if they do this they are potentially harming our production line? We need the experienced heads and the overseas 'pro's' to help us develop the raw talent with their knowledge, they need to think about what the players need not what they think is best.
As for the Kolpak issue, i've never been a fan of this rule, theres plenty of homegrown talent out there crying out for a chance to impress, yet these teams buy 'Kolpaks' for a quick fix.
Jacques Rudolph is a prime example, one minute he's there or there abouts for the Proteas, the next he decides to call it a day for a couple of years just so he can play domestic cricket on a EU passport, its wrong.
As for the new stars being made if it happens it happens, we should take notice and perhaps learn from that example, perhaps get rid of the 40/45 over games, and have a shorter version of the game where we need 6 under 22's in a squad where so many of them have to play.
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Lets be honest here the whole thing going on in India could become good for the game there in the long run because its promoting competition, all be it if one is officially backed and the other isn't, Indians will be the winners in the end.
For me this whole contract wrangle with those agreeing to play in one of the leagues & county cricket is a bit silly to be fair, they are professionals afterall and they all have family they need to provide for, and for the good of the game in the long run, they'll help bring through the future of the game.
That brings me onto the idea of stopping any Enland & Wales based players from playing in one of these, don't the powers that be realise that if they do this they are potentially harming our production line? We need the experienced heads and the overseas 'pro's' to help us develop the raw talent with their knowledge, they need to think about what the players need not what they think is best.
As for the Kolpak issue, i've never been a fan of this rule, theres plenty of homegrown talent out there crying out for a chance to impress, yet these teams buy 'Kolpaks' for a quick fix.
Jacques Rudolph is a prime example, one minute he's there or there abouts for the Proteas, the next he decides to call it a day for a couple of years just so he can play domestic cricket on a EU passport, its wrong.
As for the new stars being made if it happens it happens, we should take notice and perhaps learn from that example, perhaps get rid of the 40/45 over games, and have a shorter version of the game where we need 6 under 22's in a squad where so many of them have to play.
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I agree with this artical and hope that county cricket in the end gets a real boost. With the big names going to India and the removal of the Kolpac players the counties will have to resort to english players. This will benifit not only them but the england team in the future. I feal that the last couple of years the overseas stars in the counties have started to abuse the situation and only come in for a few games. If they are going to get an overseas player, I feel that the couties need to pick one that will be commited to at least 3/4 of the season and when he leaves they are not allowed to get a quick fix from abroard. This will stengthen the game in england and means that he only overseas players we get are commited to the counties they play for.
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Well, sadly like most other sports it's gone from being a sport to being a money spinning, souless, business circus. The product is essentially the same but it's been interfered with from tv rights to overseas player contracts. I am not a big fan of county cricket compared with the international scene, but had lost all interest with county cricket (because half the team were ageing county journeyman or overseas 'superstars') and one-day cricket (because of the sheer volume of one day matches played - it's nonsense). County cricket should be about the young players coming through, but the overseas players have been taking all the limelight, and to have fewer playing county cricket is actually a good thing, and having a greater focus and clearer indication as to where we are regarding young talent is a blessing. I may actually take an interest in county cricket again this season - i want to see the young players get first XI experience earlier, and this season they will. Somehow a very simple thing, i.e sportsmen playing sport has been made the most complicated law minefield - it's actually become a joke. I enjoyed county cricket the most when there was the simple one overseas player rule (when, if you played for a country other than England, you were 'overseas', perfect logic, now that made sense). Ah, the good old days....
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Lets be honest here the whole thing going on in India could become good for the game there in the long run because its promoting competition, all be it if one is officially backed and the other isn't, Indians will be the winners in the end.
For me this whole contract wrangle with those agreeing to play in one of the leagues & county cricket is a bit silly to be fair, they are professionals afterall and they all have family they need to provide for, and for the good of the game in the long run, they'll help bring through the future of the game.
That brings me onto the idea of stopping any Enland & Wales based players from playing in one of these, don't the powers that be realise that if they do this they are potentially harming our production line? We need the experienced heads and the overseas 'pro's' to help us develop the raw talent with their knowledge, they need to think about what the players need not what they think is best.
As for the Kolpak issue, i've never been a fan of this rule, theres plenty of homegrown talent out there crying out for a chance to impress, yet these teams buy 'Kolpaks' for a quick fix.
Jacques Rudolph is a prime example, one minute he's there or there abouts for the Proteas, the next he decides to call it a day for a couple of years just so he can play domestic cricket on a EU passport, its wrong.
As for the new stars being made if it happens it happens, we should take notice and perhaps learn from that example, perhaps get rid of the 40/45 over games, and have a shorter version of the game where we need 6 under 22's in a squad where so many of them have to play.
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I agree the situation is very getting complex and the lawyers time is coming. Take Shane Bond's situation as an example. He has deals with Hampshire and the ICL is no longer contracted to NZ Cricket.
County teams need a non-objection certificate (NOC) from a player's home Board. Who is to provide this in Bond's case? NZ Cricket and Bond mutually agreed to end his NZ contract so he could play in the ICL. Hampshire is a benefactor of that decision as, presumably, there is no longer a need for a NOC.
So the moral of the story is, if you are uncontracted to your national Board, you can prettty well do as you please. Don't be surprised if more players choose this route to give themselves maximum options.
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Look lets be honest. This whole thing started because one TV company in India wouldn't get rights to the cricket even if they paid more money and now after one company decided to form a league, another has been formed just to deliberately try and put the other out of business. This is nothing to do with cricket, its all about a petty, pathetic tv rights argument.
We'll have to see what happens, but I doubt anyone outside of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh will even follow the competition
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Look lets be honest. This whole thing started because one TV company in India wouldn't get rights to the cricket even if they paid more money and now after one company decided to form a league, another has been formed just to deliberately try and put the other out of business. This is nothing to do with cricket, its all about a petty, pathetic tv rights argument.
We'll have to see what happens, but I doubt anyone outside of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh will care enough to follow the competition
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20/20 is rubbish.
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IPL is a waste of time, and effort - It does not promote anything other than greed, money and more greed
Matches staged by IPL are owned by vested interests withthe blesing of BCCI to make humungus money - In a poor country like India such extravagant dole out of money to very ordinary cricketers is causing imbalance - Like an unknwown player called Manoj Tiwary, is getting 1 million for 44 days - India is not a capitalist system to call this that way
50% cannot get one emal a day still - roads are pathetic, pollution horrendous - cricket ground sapalling - BCCI gets billions and no one knows where all this goes -
Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta wants the poor Indian's money at the gates - The sane should wake up
Above all, these matches do not promote any serious competition - Never can a mixed bag of cricketers show the same passion and fierceness
It is merely an entertainment and exhibitionism - Muralitharan will feed longhops,a nd Afridi will hit them to Pakistan
Utter nonsense
The money can be spent better in building a better infratsructure in India and better hygeine
Rav Balky
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What about the situation of Shane Warne in all this? He seems to have carte blanche from Hampshire to play in a poker tournament and thus miss the beginning of the season, and now the IPL, so he will hardly be seen at Hampshire this season, despite being the captain of the team. What sort of example does that set?
Whilst he is captain he is taking away the possibilities for a home-grown youngster to get leadership experience. I look at the current England test team, and don't see a natural successor to Michael Vaughan - I look at the county sides and see quite a few of them with overseas players whose international careers are over taking up a place which could be taken by younger players. (Langer at Somerset is another example). I'm not against having overseas players per se, as in the best circumstances younger players can learn from their experience, but there has to be a balance struck.
Maybe the IPL is doing county and national teams in the UK a favour.... Who knows - it all seems rather up in the air.
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Its about time cricket players get their due. More power to the IPL. If they were not stuck in some wierd establishment play to control the game and maximize their own priveliges, the various national cricket organinzations would be heralding this new era where players get paid for their skills and not some strange country (or county) loyalty mantra. The time for cricket colonialism is past. Its time to throw those tea bags into the harbor.
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Well i have'nt read any of the above comments but think this way,in near future around 150 players are pooled and auctioned off to all the teast playing counteries just like IPL has done.this way the players will know their worth the revenue produced will help to pay the poor nations,Iam talking about the " cricket playing nations".This way ever penny will be paid by the television and the advertisers no cost to any cricket board and every one is happy ever after.Please comment.VIC
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The IPL is a knee jerk reaction to the ICL, flooded with money by the BCCI to try and drive the ICL out of business, regardless of the cost. That the ICC and countries' boards have submitted to the BCCI's demands to ban ICL players shows just how much they are scared of the bullying BCCI.
No-one has explained why the ICL is a threat to world cricket yet the IPL is not. The ICL did not sink to the levels of what seemed to be a "slave auction". Now New Zealand has lost current players to the ICL and looks a much weaker side for it.
The players banned by the then TCCB during the Packer affair took legal action and won their cases. I get the feeling that it won't be too long before banned ICL players start taking legal action.
IPL seems about as worthy of being called a sport as WWE "wrestling".
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Well...I am old enough to remember the furore of the Kerry Packer competition when that started. Now looking back it was one of the best things to have happend. Lets wait and see........if it makes people watch cricket and they enjoy it, and big business are prepared to pay the money that we pay footballers in the UK a week, then so what, good luck to them. I can see some real plus points and will create opportunities to those who may not normally get a chance to play cricket at a higher level throughout the word.
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In my opinion, the IPL is a very good indication of the single thing that the BCCI consider important-MONEY!
The media have gone crazy about the whole franchise system, drafts and such, but at the end of the day, its about 11 men on the field who work as a team.
What irks me most if that Lalit Modi (the commisioner for the IPL) wants the ECB to take a firmer stance on those players opting for the ICL. What happens in England is private/confidential, and he should have NO right to demand anything from the ECB.
Two completely different competitions have been put against each other. I think the ICL is the better option, despite it not getting official recognition.
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Twenty 20 cricket is the best thing that can happen in the history of cricket for the cricket fans...they want to see cricket and have less time coz of busy life and the T20 matches have been of intrest!
in the short matches you have all the thrill of a oneday and power of the game.
only the game of youngsters for the young.
Indian Cricket League has been a boon to youngsters/young players.
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i really dont fink all gud players go india cuz i wanna see em 4 counties in england. it wud be different if i lived in india but i liv in england yeh.
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