ushma87star
Par 100 posts (V.I.P)
In 1977, Kerry Packer hit upon an innovative approach to revive the languishing ratings of his Australian television station, Channel Nine. He launched World Series Cricket (WSC), a breakaway professional cricket competition that took on the established format of the game by luring 50 of the best international cricketers with lip smacking pay – packets. The concept took its time to click, but by the time the second season began, Packer’s unique day-night one-day matches – played under floodlights, with teams in coloured clothing – began to gain in popularity. Sections of the media dubbed the series “Packer’s Circus”, but looking back he was responsible for taking the game to a new level – microphones in stumps, helmets, cameras at both ends of the pitch and a variety of camera angles, much of which is taken for granted today, were a function of WSC.
Now, 25 years on, Subhash Chandra, the pioneering founder of the Essel Group, which broadcasts the Zee bouquet of channels, appears to be trying something similar. Last fortnight, he announced the launch of a parallel cricket series, dubbed the “India Cricket League” (ICL), in association with financial institution IL&FS. Ostensibly aimed at improving the quality of cricket talent in India, ICL will be set up with an investment of Rs 100 crore and will be the richest professional cricket league in India with an annual prize money of $ 1 million (Rs 4.3 crore). The amount by itself may no appear mouthwatering – after all Indian one-day cricketers will be paid Rs 1 lakh per match (after a recent revision) – but what works in Chandra’s favour is the timing of the announcement; it comes as it is in the wake of India’s debacle at the ICC World Cup, and the fans’ disillusionment with the team, the game and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The format? The league will initially comprise six teams, which will be expanded to 16 after three years. According to Chandra: “A professional league is the need of the hour, as is a killer instinct. Budding talent must be groomed at the grassroot levels and given the experience to play on competitive pitches and not on placed tracks which is usually their downfall when tested on international circuits.” ICL will have 50-over one-dayers as well as 20:20 format games. Each team will also have first and second division sides so as to maximize talent utilization.
So, is the ICL another WSC in the making? Not quite, if you go by what Harish Thawani, Chairman, Nimbus Sports, which has paid $ 612 million (Rs 2,632 crore) and got the rights to BCCI Cricket matches until 2010, has to say.
“There are dozens of cricket leagues played like the Kanga League, and the Buchibabu League, to name a few, and this is going to be no different.” However, it isn’t as if the idea doesn’t have its merits. Anirban Das Blah, Vice President, Globosport, a Bangalore – based sports management company promoted by Mahesh Bhupati, thinks the ICL is the way to go. “This is the model followed worldwide for any sporting activity to flourish. But if they did it in partnership with the BCCI, it would be much better,” he says. Chandra, at the official announcement in Delhi, did mention that league would be complementary to the work of the BCCI, which could draw from the talent that ICL produces. It is understood that the BCCI has already been approached by the Essel Group to co-operate in this effort, but no reply had been received so far. Ratnakar Shetty, Chief Administrative Officer of the BCCI, when contacted by BT, was non-commital. “We do not have any clarity on the issue and, therefore, cannot comment.”
Comparisions with the WSC may be premature. ICL has yet to rope in any players, current or former. Himanshu Modi, CEO, Zee Sports, says: “We are talking to quite a few players. It will be a mix of players still playing and players who are at the verge of retiring.” ICL will also need the BCCI’s consent to play in existing stadiums. Modi doesn’t see that as a problem. “The BCCI does not own properties directly. They are state – owned properties and if we pay the necessary fees I do notes a reason why we cannot get the venues.” ICL, for its part, may have plans for creating infrastructure, and that may be the reason for having IL&FS on board. V.Kapoor, CEO, IL&FS, was unavailable for comment. The ICL clearly is still a gleam in Chandra’s eye, and he’s got to follow up his announcement with some hard – nosed innovation, execution and negotiation.
Now, 25 years on, Subhash Chandra, the pioneering founder of the Essel Group, which broadcasts the Zee bouquet of channels, appears to be trying something similar. Last fortnight, he announced the launch of a parallel cricket series, dubbed the “India Cricket League” (ICL), in association with financial institution IL&FS. Ostensibly aimed at improving the quality of cricket talent in India, ICL will be set up with an investment of Rs 100 crore and will be the richest professional cricket league in India with an annual prize money of $ 1 million (Rs 4.3 crore). The amount by itself may no appear mouthwatering – after all Indian one-day cricketers will be paid Rs 1 lakh per match (after a recent revision) – but what works in Chandra’s favour is the timing of the announcement; it comes as it is in the wake of India’s debacle at the ICC World Cup, and the fans’ disillusionment with the team, the game and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The format? The league will initially comprise six teams, which will be expanded to 16 after three years. According to Chandra: “A professional league is the need of the hour, as is a killer instinct. Budding talent must be groomed at the grassroot levels and given the experience to play on competitive pitches and not on placed tracks which is usually their downfall when tested on international circuits.” ICL will have 50-over one-dayers as well as 20:20 format games. Each team will also have first and second division sides so as to maximize talent utilization.
So, is the ICL another WSC in the making? Not quite, if you go by what Harish Thawani, Chairman, Nimbus Sports, which has paid $ 612 million (Rs 2,632 crore) and got the rights to BCCI Cricket matches until 2010, has to say.
“There are dozens of cricket leagues played like the Kanga League, and the Buchibabu League, to name a few, and this is going to be no different.” However, it isn’t as if the idea doesn’t have its merits. Anirban Das Blah, Vice President, Globosport, a Bangalore – based sports management company promoted by Mahesh Bhupati, thinks the ICL is the way to go. “This is the model followed worldwide for any sporting activity to flourish. But if they did it in partnership with the BCCI, it would be much better,” he says. Chandra, at the official announcement in Delhi, did mention that league would be complementary to the work of the BCCI, which could draw from the talent that ICL produces. It is understood that the BCCI has already been approached by the Essel Group to co-operate in this effort, but no reply had been received so far. Ratnakar Shetty, Chief Administrative Officer of the BCCI, when contacted by BT, was non-commital. “We do not have any clarity on the issue and, therefore, cannot comment.”
Comparisions with the WSC may be premature. ICL has yet to rope in any players, current or former. Himanshu Modi, CEO, Zee Sports, says: “We are talking to quite a few players. It will be a mix of players still playing and players who are at the verge of retiring.” ICL will also need the BCCI’s consent to play in existing stadiums. Modi doesn’t see that as a problem. “The BCCI does not own properties directly. They are state – owned properties and if we pay the necessary fees I do notes a reason why we cannot get the venues.” ICL, for its part, may have plans for creating infrastructure, and that may be the reason for having IL&FS on board. V.Kapoor, CEO, IL&FS, was unavailable for comment. The ICL clearly is still a gleam in Chandra’s eye, and he’s got to follow up his announcement with some hard – nosed innovation, execution and negotiation.