BCCI - ICL Rout Hits ECB - Getting Uglier ??

[BANFAN]

Niranjan Shah, the BCCI secretary, told Cricinfo Pakistan had been asked to join the tournament after the Indian board found it would not be possible to invite English counties due to the ECB's "policy of letting ICL players play in their leagues". The IPL - a part of the Indian board - is the driving force behind the Champions League while the rules for the tournament are currently being framed by Cricket Australia.

The BCCI has barred all official links with players associated with the ICL, which was launched last year before the BCCI's high-profile IPL, but there are currently around 25 players connected with the ICL playing for 15 of the 18 English counties.

BCCI is flexing it's muscle and I think it is getting uglier. The ECB is undone because the ICL players can't be banned from counties due to labour laws. So you can expect ECB to retaliate against BCCI anytime. Looks like ICL is going to benefit.

Full Story (http://content-pak.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current/story/355733.html)

[BANFAN]

The story so far

September 13, 2007: First announcement of Champions League, an international Twenty20 competition to be run by boards of India, England, Australia and South Africa and featuring top two sides from each country.
June 7, 2008: ECB says the league, with US$5m prize money, will be held in September-October.
June 8, 2008: IPL chief Lalit Modi says its franchises will get first priority over players who are also in other teams to qualify for the Champions League - and that teams fielding ICL players will be disqualified.
June 10, 2008: Chairmen of several English counties demand clarification over the eligibility of ICL players.
June 19, 2008: BCCI president Sharad Pawar says national boards can adopt their own policy over ICL players but the BCCI would then have the freedom to take its decision.

[Sovik]

i am loving it. according to cricinfo, counties were cleared to pick ICL players

Sharad Pawar, the BCCI president, has said that all teams participating in the proposed Champions League have the freedom to include players of their choice for the US$5 million multi-club Twenty20 tournament, even it means including players with ties to the unauthorized Indian Cricket League (ICL). But he placed the onus on letting such teams go through on the countries they represent and warned that the BCCI would then have the freedom to take its decision on the issue.

Link>> (http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/india/content/story/355367.html)