Shoaib Akhtar unloved and unwanted will turn to ICL

Once the PCB permitted him to play overseas, the common perception was, it would only be a matter of time before he played in the IPL.

However, IPL and its parent organization BCCI, have turned their backs on him stating "they will not admit anyone suspended by his home country".

Here is a backgrounder on Shoaib Akthar's ban and its aftermath.

1. Banned by PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) for five years on charges of indiscipline.
2. This automatically bars him from IPL.
3. On appeal Shoaib Akthar earns a partial victory. PCB still bans him from playing in Pakistan. However, he can play abroad. This qualifies him for IPL.
4. IPL (Indian Premier League) wants no truck with him citing its policy that it will not admit anyone suspended by his home country.

This leaves Shoaib with no recourse other than to play either in the ICL or parade his wares in the English county.

If one goes by his past record, he will surely join ICL out of spite and thus effectively end his turbulent International career.

County Cricket Chiefs wary of player-power

The BBC conducted a survey to find out how India’s Twenty20 leagues, namely the IPL and the ICL, will affect the English county cricket.

County cricket chiefs were unanimous that the Twenty20 leagues will have a dramatic effect on the future of the English game.

Apart from this generalized opinion, the BBC survey also revealed a range of concerns.

1. The game could split
2. Teams or county’s going bankrupt
3. Rampant player power.

Out of the three, the first two are genuine cause for concern. However, their fear of player-power is as irrational as their fear of BCCI taking over the ICC.

It is irrational because there is no reason to believe that player –power is bad for the game. It also reveals a rather egoistical attitude that they only know what is best for the game of cricket.

One thing is evident, by expressing their alarm, the county cricket chiefs have unconsciously acknowledged that their unchallenged reign is coming to an end.

What is Shoaib Akhtar up to?

Shoaib Akhtar, seems hell bent on pleasing everyone.

His masters have given him a glowing report and going by his antics today, it looks as if he is aiming for the most 'sportive' person award of this series.

However one cannot but feel that all his good behaviour is a pretence. If it is a pretence, what is he aiming at?

An IPL contract?

If I am not mistaken, he is yet to be approached by both factions, even though earlier there were reports of him joining ICL

Update:

Q says,

ICL offered him ( a contract) and he (had) refused. In fact he was offered one of the highest paying contracts.

IPL has offered him (a contract) and he has accepted (it).

Thanks Q, I stand corrected.

Another Craig Macmillan?

Former Australia batsman Darren Lehmann
announces his retirement from the game after a struggle with
injuries.

Is he one more ICL recruit?

Chappell on the lasting impact of ICL

It sounds pretty ominous.

Chappell said he was particularly concerned about the standard of first-class
cricket in India now that the rebel Twenty20 Indian Cricket League has ripped up
to 44 players out of the domestic competition.

"There would be some
club sides in Melbourne which would now probably be better than some of the
first-class teams in India," he said.

He fears India's success in
the Twenty20 World Cup, prompting millions to mob the returning heroes, will
ease the pressure for structural reform in the country.

Surely, his concern for the structural reform is misplaced.

Did we ever have one?

ICL- looking for a way out?

At a time when even Bollywood Badshahs are reluctant to release their new ventures, ICL have organized their league fixtures.

So what is ICL trying to achieve by conducting their league at the same time as the Indo-Pak series?

Having been bested, outsmarted and out sold by IPL, they need an excuse to wind up their circus.

The best way to ensure that the league is stillborn is to conduct it at the same time as an Indo-Pak series.

It will definitely fail to garner attention and citing this failure, ICL can then wriggle out of the players and other corporate contracts.

Obviously, the Lara's will get their pound of flesh; it is the minor players who will be toast.