Not just financial but logically (maybe legaly) people shouldnt be penalised for playing in ICL. Though I am not sure if a league starts in England and 'steals' first class cricketers from different counties with more pay the ECB would not try to get it banned.

So the BCCI is greedy. That's hardly news. Isnt that part of their job ? Make more money? Considering the other part (developing cricket in India) is taken care of (almost) thanks to the huge following.

What makes you think that these franchises will not invest in developing cricketers? It could be a good investment. Even if they dont they will pay money to BCCI which will then invest in developing cricketers.

Indian states playing 20/20 with 4 foreign players and finding their sponsors would probably have generates less interest (money) so the BCCI went for the more profitable way of doing it. It's probably one of the few things they have got right.

ECB should start a 20/20 for counties with lesser teams (8 max.) and 4 internationals per team. They can afford it. It will have a following and generate money and there will be competition to the IPL which should be a good thing. But I am not sure they will do it.

Anyone with a modicum of intellect can see what the BCCI are trying, and largely succeeding in doing, so why is this even being debated? What never ceases to amaze me is how people can see things so differently. There's nothing wrong with opinions being different, what I don't understand is how they can be so different when the obvious is staring us all in the face?

Yes, the BCCI are a greedy, money grabbing bunch of power hungry snakes and it's quite preposterous for you to even suggest that the money they're generating is going back into the good of the game, either in India or anywhere else - it's to line their own pockets for gods sake! Why else would a former BCCI President be accused of 'alleged' corruption and falsifying account charges?

Where are the BCCI accounts by the way? Anyone ever seen them? If not why not? What are they hiding by not showing anyone? If the BCCI published their accounts for all to see, like the ECB do with theirs (in a downloadable .pdf document from their website) people wouldn't be so suspicious of them would they? All governing sports bodies should publish their accounts for all to see and be above suspicion, but it appears the third world countries and specifically the BCCI are exempt from that inconvenience and it's therefore no wonder people are wary of them.

The ICL and IPL were actually born out of a financial wrangle between the BCCI and an asian television media company who lost out on telecast rights to India's home games and decided that if they couldn't win the telecast rights in a bidding war, they'd create their own cricket league (the ICL) to televise and broadcast themselves. The BCCI didn't like that either (presumably because the money generated wasn't going to be theirs) and therefore started up the IPL in direct competition to the ICL and then used their power over the ICC to try and squash their competition by getting the ICC to authorise their IPL but not the rival ICL. That's hardly fair is it? And certinaly not working for the good of cricket world wide.

Why else would the BCCI do everything in their power to stop more associate countries playing at the next world cup, if not to produce more 'attractive' competitive games for their cash cow 'viewers' to be attracted to? As far as the BCCI are concerned a Cricket match between Bermuda and Holland is not a particularly attractive cash cow is it? So they dont want it - how is that helping to develop the game worldwide?

The sad reality is that the IPL is simply a vehicle for the greedy BCCI buisinessmen to line their own personal pockets and has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with developing the game either in India or worldwide and anyone who thinks otherwise is in my opinion naively foolish.

Yes you are right scott. But Corruption and greediness is not only large in cricket in india but also in other sports in india as well. I guess its just a part of indian sports, and will take a lot of time to be eradicated.

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"They look like a team destined to win the world cup"......
Ian Chappel during Ind v SA in the World Cup 20-20

As Edmund Burke said -

"All it takes for evil to prosper is for good men to do nothing."

It's time the good men of World Cricket did something about the BCCI.

I was under the impression the vast majority of cricketing talent is developed in schools, not by the BCCI. Apart from that it doesn't seem a very robust system, relying more on luck than planning.

The team only exists for 7 weeks a year, that doesn't develop cricketers. Developing cricketers takes 10 years + from age 9 or so onwards. The closest they will get to that is picking a promising young player from an existing state in the hope they perform. That is not player development in any form, and if anything is preventing them from being supported by their state.

With no regard for any other country, or anything other than maximising revenue. To claim it is the best way to develop players is ridiculous.Debatable.

Do you think people will suddenly develop mindless loyalty to some invented team which is invented purely to take their money off them? I can't imagine I'm the only one who wouldn't fall for it.

I dont know how the BCCI works and I am not in any way supporting it. But that doesnt mean everything they do is bad.
With regard to IPL they have done a few good things:
- Bussinesses involved means professionals incharge, less BCCI incompetence
- No player can play without permission of national board
- Willingness to move season to accomodate county players
- Not allowing banned players (eg. Shoaib akhtar).

Where do the counties stand on the above ? Would it be fair to criticize them for it ? Not IMO.

Considering the above can we seriously claim that they have no regard for other countries. International cricket is not affected. Even first class cricket in other countries is affected only little cos the season is just 7 weeks, unlike county cricket which in the past lured players away with 'English money'

If IPL succeeds then there is no reason the franchises will not invest in local cricket in India atleast if they are going to get good returns. It could be cheaper than buying. Something like what the premiership does. But that's thinking too far ahead.

As far as loyalities are concerned I dont know how city loyalities are in india but that's for the IPL to worry about. It should be a good test of how many Indian fans support cricket rather than just follow the flag. Let's wait and see how it goes.

If your starting point is everyone in BCCI is corrupt you will clearly see everything they do as BAD. Maybe you should ask why your opinion of BCCI is so biased in the first place.
Accusing BCCI of incompetence is fair but to state that they are all corrupt is just slander and actually goes to the root of the issue in world cricket. Fans of different countries look at each other and seem to have a very low and stereotypical opinion of the other side.

IPL is not BCCI. It is mainly going to be run by businesses who i am sure will publish their profit/loss etc. Which is another reason why you should like it.

Banning ICL is obviously a business decision. It would probably be against competition laws in UK but any business will try to squash competition. We shouldnt feel sorry for ICL but be worried about how the players involved in have been treated. I dont believe the current state can last as it is. Some compromise has got to be reached.

Ninjaman read this then say "Cricket has not been changed by the IPL".

Link to the truth, or the excuse: BBC SPORT | Cricket | International Teams | India | IPL blamed for India Test defeat

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Ern

Its not an excuse. It's the truth. Sachin tendulkar, even though he is riding the lowest of this tides is very crucial for IPL to clikc in the first few weeks. Not surprised if its revelaed later that BCCI asked sachin to rest with IPL being a few weeks ahead. He is missing the 3rd test as well and many key players may miss out as well. south africa would win the series 2-0 unless something very special is delivered by one of the indian players.

Double standards again from BCCI when it says on one hand that it would not affect the FTP process, whereas on the other hand it does not seem to take seriously yet another home test loss to south africa(though nowhere its proved that bcci is not taking indian loss to SA seriously, its anybody's guess work)

Having said that, i still feel IPL is a must. I would have supported the league if it were APL, EPL, SAPL or NZPL

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Tendulkar - A gift to the game of cricket

Firstly, I never stated that 'everyone' on the BCCI was corrupt, that's your own personal inference and it is incorrect. What I am saying is that the BCCI 'en masse' have other priorities other than furthering the cause of International Cricket and that other 'priority' is financially motivated.

My opinion of the BCCI is formed from what I see them do and everything the BCCI do is either financially motivated or power motivated. I see very little effort coming from the BCCI in either improving world cricket or even cricket just in India, which is what they're 'supposed' to be doing. Perhaps that might explain a little more clearly why I appear to be biased against them.

You'll not see me mention the PCB too often, because I won't waste my time with them, they're a joke and a very poor powerless version of the BCCI.

I never stated they were 'all corrupt' again that's your own incorrect inference, I stated that they were only interested in generating profits for themselves, that can be done on a legal basis just as it can be done on an illegal basis.

No better example can be the poor performance of the Indian side running up to the start of the IPL, is it not the BCCI's responsiblity to ensure that their Test side competes at an appropriate level? The Indian players appear more concerned about the upcoming IPL than they do in playing for their country, and that's because the IPL is financially motivated.

Is any of this making any sense to you?

Do you ever see me making disparaging remarks about other country Cricket Boards? Do you see me critisiing the New Zealand Board? The Australian Board? The SA board? (god knows they need it considering their rediculous 'quota' system) The Sri Lankan Board? The Bangladesh Board? Zimbabwe shouldn't even be in International Cricket so we'll skip them.

The BCCI deserve criticism, so why are you surprised that people criticise them?

More naivety! Take a look at Lalit Modi, Head of the IPL and Vice-President of the BCCI. Just a coincidence isn't it?

I shall look forward to seeing their balance sheets, but I won't hold my breath.

Which still doesn't make it right and yes, developed countries have anti-competition and monopoly laws, which clearly hasn't reached such third world countries where profit is concerned.

So, the top 5% of India's population continues to grow rich and fat, while the remaining 95% continue to be poor.