Well, New Zealand's Players' Association is not actually endorsing Indian Cricket league (ICL) but it is requesting ICC to recognize ICL. New Zealand's Players' Association has their own motive behind this request. ICL is offering lucrative deals to foreign players and New Zealand is not exactly a big market for cricket. So, players in New Zealand cannot earn a lot of money. New Zealand's Players' Association is worried that many top players of the country may go to play in ICL and if ICL is not recognized then New Zealand cricket will suffer.
India Times wrote:
New Zealand's Players' Association has urged the ICC to recognise the Indian Cricket League (ICL) as not sanctioning the rebel series could lead to an exodus of top Kiwi players.
Heath Mills, chief of the NZCPA, said they are more at risk from the rebel series as the players might find the million dollar offer too lucrative to reject.
"They're paying their players close to a million a year so it's a no-brainer. But a guy who is near the top of the retainer list and plays most games a year is looking at $250,000 maximum. That makes us vulnerable," Mills said.
Mills said while Australia, England and South Africa had the money to stop their players from joining ICL, New Zealand Cricket would not be able to retain its top players.
It is natural that New Zealand's Players' Association is worried about their players. However, I don’t think that ICC would want to listen to New Zealand's Players' Association. ICC has to keep in mind of BCCI’s opposition of ICL. BCCI is now the most influential body in world cricket.
may be it is the first Association which is Supporting ICL
Posted by: animesh chandra | August 22, 2007 4:20 AM | Permalink to Comment