Indian Cricket League (ICl): 25 Things you need to know

Only three days are left before the start of India’s rebel Twenty20 tournament. No doubt, it is much awaited and expected to all classes’ people. And I also think you are excited to see the Twenty20 tournament which is going to organize by ICL. First time any big private tournament is going to organize by Essel group based on Twenty20. After many barrier and uncertainty, it is going to take place in the field. Match schedule has also been announced. The main attraction of this tournament is the participation of some star foreign players like Inzamam-Ul-Haq and Brian Lara who will play for different teams in this tournament.

Here I made a list of 20 things about ICL Twenty20 tournament 2007:

1. India’s rebel cricket league ICL Twenty20 tournament 2007 will kick off with Delhi Jets taking on Chandigarh Lions on December 30, 2007.
2. ICL authority has announced six teams name based on India’s big six city named Delhi Jets, Chandigarh Lions, Mumbai Champs, Kolkata Tigers, Chennai Superstars and Hyderabad Heroes.
3. All of the matches are set to take place on Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex in Panchkula, Chandigarh.
4. 20 matches will be held in this tournament.
5. At first all the participating teams will face each others in a round robin league format.
6. All of the matches will take place at Tau Devi Lal stadium in Panchkula which is near to Chandigarh.
7. Tau Devi Lal stadium, Chandigarh has 20,000 seating capacity.
8. ICL authorities are planning to lease this venue for 10 years.
9. Zee Sports is the media partner of ICL. So, you can see all the Twenty20 matches on this channel.
10. Each of the team consists of 18 or 19 players where you can see at least 5 foreign star players in every team.
11. Local star players have been selected along with foreign star players. No, doubt it will be a great experience for them.
12. Each team will be coached by a former international player including three Indian former players. They are Madan Lal (Delhi Jets), Balwinder Sandhu (Chandigarh Lions) and Sandip Patil (Mumbai Champs). Others are Moin Khan (Hyderabad Heroes), Darryl Cullinan (Kolkata Tigers) and Michael Bevan (Chennai Superstars).
13. BCCI has not approved ICL. Rather, they are trying to do everything to make ICL unsuccessful.
14. The quantity of foreign star players is 29 including West Indian batting great Brian Lara and recently taking retirement Pakistani former captain Inzamam-Ul-Haq.
15. ICL had become successful to comprise many international players but on July 24 some great international names cropped up such as Brian Lara. At last, they have become successful to confirm that two big star Brian Lara and Inzamam-Ul-Haq has signed up and will be joining the league.
16. ICL is the richest professional league in the country with an annual prize of $1 million.
17. Essel group is the venture of ICL.
18. The league was thought to be functional by July-August 2007 and will start with Twenty20 format matches in November 30, 2007.
19. Each team will have a paid mentor, media manager, psychologist, physiotherapist
20. Winning team of this tournament will get US $ 1 million as annual prize money.
21. Top four teams in terms of point achieved will qualify to play semi-final round. And the remaining two teams will play against each others to decide the fifth and sixth place.
22. Losing teams in semi-final round will also face each other to qualify the third and fourth place.
23. BCCI has not approved and recognized ICL. They also criticize Kiran More and Kapil Dev for joining ICL.
24. BCCI has also made their own Twenty20 league with the help of Australian, England and South African board which is similar to ICL named Indian Premier League (IPL).
25. ICL was fear about the lack of infrastructure like the cricket stadium, organizers, media partner etc from the first of its organized. But they have got many facilities from various government bodies. It was reported that camps will be held at Mayajaal in Chennai, which is a private resort with good cricket facilities.
    

Wikipedia
Indianraj