The Indian Cricket League Thread

[doremi]

It started today. Couldn't watch the first game till about halfway through the 2nd innings.

Chandigarh Lions v Delhi Jets. Was OK, they need bigger players though. Had the usual gimmicks, typical of Zee Sports.

Delhi lost by 9 runs.

They brought over the girl who hosts the match analysis show for the domestic football matches, which is a very good move because as well as being really pretty, her idea of post match show hosting doesn't involve giggling, trying to look pretty and getting flirted at by Tony Greig.

[taipan]

they need bigger players though.

They used midgets?

[Josh Carney]

For those who watched it particularly in India what was it like ? Has it captured the imagination of the public ? Personally hope so. BCCI and in general Indian sports needs to be challenged to better themselves.

[rey]

I watched it (albeit not in India) and to be honest i was disappointed.

Greig, Jones and the rest of the commentators were going very ott in trying to 'big up' the game and make out as if it was a thriller when really it was quite a bore and lacked that something special.

The speech during the innings break by laloo was cringe worthy and laughable with him saying the ICL is set to change cricket forever etc etc then he went about blowing his own trumpet for another 10 minutes.

The stadium seemed full to capacity though.

I think its major drawback wont be the retired or b list international players but simply the Z list domestic players which make up the teams.

Although its being shown free in the uk I won;t be tuning in again.

I guess it doesnt really make good tv viewing but to be at the ground would be something different thus I think it will continue to be popular for the indian public.

[JKLever]

Although its being shown free in the uk I won;t be tuning in again.

What channel was it on?

[Aathma]

It's on Zee Music Sky Ch 789.

[JKLever]

Cheers

[The One]

i saw bits of it, frankly preferred to see the sa vs nz and wi vz zim matches on at the same time. seemed more like a festival match with lots of big bellies (did anyone see andrew hall!) and the commentators like said above were trying too hard. with the kind of player line-up on offer i would prefer to see a masters tournament instead. unless they can get some big current names to play for them i dont see this going much further

and can they do something about the lights? its too yellow imo, looks a bit depressing

[HH_pink]

Isn't that the kind of attitude we should try to change, TO? Not wanting to watch cricket matches because "there are no big names". If the domestic scene is ever to improve. If you wouldn't want to watch local players even in T20 matches, what chance has the four-day match?

[The One]

big names = high quality matches. there is a reason why they are big names. besides icl does not even have high level domestic players playing, save 2 or 3. most of them would struggle to get into a ranji super league team

i think icl's biggest problem really is grounds. i would probably go for a match or two if its a proper home and away league, like football. you know, 3 hours in the evening, 500 bucks, followed by dinner and drinks at a restaurant nearby, paisa vasool. having all the matches in chandigarh, with no one in the bombay team actually from bombay - wgaf? much rather watch one of the local gymkhana games

met nilesh kulkarni the other day. he was going to sign up for icl but then stopped when the bcci went ballistic. he said his whole future in the game would be compromised - playing, coaching, commentating, etc if he joined the icl and he doesnt see any major current player or a youngster who has a chance to play for india joining icl. the icl is against the establishment and unlike packer is not offering more money or benefits. why would anyone who wants to play top-level cricket join the league? its good the icl pushed the bcci into being more active, but now its just chandra's ego thats keeping it going

[doremi]

I think ICL is offering a lot more money than what the domestic players would normally have made. Doesn't make sense otherwise to leave the BCCI.

[*Buckaroo*]

ICL can pick up raw talent right off the streets and put them directly in the spotlight. If they come to know of a youngster who can bowl 150km they need not waste time putting him through the domestic league on dead tracks etc. They can directly put him in international cricket.

BCCI won't even know what hit it, there's plenty of talent around and I am sure a country of India's size can easily support two parallel leagues.

[doremi]

The youngster who can bowl 150 kmph however would have the choice of picking one of the domestic teams which could lead to the India cap, or one of the ICL teams which leads to more money on the short term. I know which one I'd choose.

[*Buckaroo*]

The youngster who can bowl 150 kmph however would have the choice of picking one of the domestic teams which could lead to the India cap, or one of the ICL teams which leads to more money on the short term. I know which one I'd choose.

His entry into BCCI Indian team isn't guaranteed at all. he will fall before the zonal quota regime. And then he will begin to lose his pace by the time he forces the selectors to pay attention.

this is how it always was.

[The One]

They can directly put him in international cricket

festival cricket you mean. delhi jets vs hyderabad heroes is far removed from real international cricket

[The One]

wrong thread

[Zat]

It seems conditions for cricketers in India today are worse than for cricketers around the globe in the days pre-WSC.

Link

Is it any wonder the ICL got up and running?

[The One]

yeah, the icl's biggest plus is to kick some bcci-arse and get the idiots interested in the welfare of domestic cricket and its players. if they can manage that chandra should be credited with at least improving their lot

i think bcci reform is the way forward. i dont think icl is a solution, more a catalyst

[The One]

here are the promo videos for the teams

Hyderabad Heroes - Cricket Ke Ustad


Chennai Superstars - Anything is POSSIBLE


Mumbai Champs - Bole toh number ONE


Kolkata Tigers - Humse Bachke Rehna


Delhi Jets - Dum Hai Toh Aao


Chandigarh Lions - Khelo Te Tashan Naal


chennai is hilarious

[Nath]

140 is the par score?!

[doremi]

Only one match has been played. Not enough to determine what would be a par score.

[Josh Carney]

Isn't that the kind of attitude we should try to change, TO? Not wanting to watch cricket matches because "there are no big names". If the domestic scene is ever to improve. If you wouldn't want to watch local players even in T20 matches, what chance has the four-day match?

Mate your points are absolutely spot on. For a sizable number of Indian fans the team itself is secondary and is still just viewed as a vehicle to put on show player(s) they identify with based on generally some narrow criteria.

[Aathma]

Whose the female host?

[HH_pink]

Mine.

So the Superstars have really shown that anything is possible. Well done them. 'Where you waannt it' next?

[Zat]

Well, those ads seem... odd.

Anyone like to offer some brief translation of the ones not spoken in English?

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