'Don't skip IPL,' Sri Lankan Board told

[SG]

Sri Lanka's sports minister Gamini Lokuge has instructed the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board to ensure that those players who are contracted with the BCCI-run Indian Premier League (IPL) be allowed to skip the England tour next year.

"I want the contracted players to honour their committments with the IPL. I don't want the tour to England be called off. But the team on English soil can have non-contracted IPL players," he said from Colombo.

The sports minister did not want the relations between the two boards be affected. The minister had meetings with the Interim Committee members on Tuesday afternoon. The SLC chairman Arjuna Ranatunga could not attend the meeting as he is yet to return from England.

According to the sources, he is likely to meet the sports minister on Wednesday once he returns from his 11th overseas trip after taking over the post on January 1 this year.

"The players who played for ICL will not play for the nation again," he emphasised.

"I am being told that these players are only allowed to play at domestic levels," he added.

The ministry could not finalise the team and manager for the Canada tournament. It is most likely to be done on Wednesday.

[JKLever]

Ban India

[Basil]

We should put out Derbyshire seconds out against them then!

Time for some firm governance from the ICC.
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Might as well wait for the reappearance of Halley's Comet.

[Red]

Either the ICC steps in and stands up to the BCCI, or the ECB says no thanks to Sri Lanka unless its best team tours. Otherwise test cricket loses its integrity.

[embee]

How much of the IPL does the SL tour of pomgolia clash with?

The ozzies touring the Windies left the IPL ...and had their IPL places filled by others ...

The IPL only allows 2 internationals per team to play a game

[Red]

How much of the IPL does the SL tour of pomgolia clash with?

The ozzies touring the Windies left the IPL ...and had their IPL places filled by others ...

The IPL only allows 2 internationals per team to play a game

I think it's four internationals per game.

[taipan]

How much of the IPL does the SL tour of pomgolia clash with?

The ozzies touring the Windies left the IPL ...and had their IPL places filled by others ...

The IPL only allows 2 internationals per team to play a game

I think it's four internationals per game.

For once I am forced to agree with red.

[holcs]

Well if the ICC don't do something, then it really does just show how pathetically toothless it is as an organisation, and also that the IPL will as many of us expected be the downfall of international cricket.

Ban India.

[holcs]

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[JKLever]

Aye...

Ban India

[Red]

The other looming problem is Bangladesh's tour of England in 2010 which clashes with the IPL. The IPL bosses have already warned that they will claim more Bangladesh players in ensuing auctions which will mean that an already severely depleted minnow will face England virtually on life support. The series will be a farce.

Unless the ICC stands up to the BCCI, or alternatively, arranges for a separate window for this tournament, test and ODI cricket will lose its lustre with the fans.

[holcs]

Lorgat paying lip service only no doubt!

[taipan]

WTF would IPL want more Bangles?

They won't exactly add value.

[holcs]

Because it means they have a monopoly on all players, and stops them joining the ICL - which was developed first!!!


Let be fair, the only player worth any sort of money from the Bangles in the IPL is Ashraful.

[Bradman]

The telling point here is "the sports minister instructed". If third world countries ever want to be taken seriously (in any number of matters) as proper democracies, they should realise that governments don't "instruct" non-governmental bodies, they "request".

And if they're told to take a long walk off a short bridge they wear it.

[holcs]

Bradders, you know better than most - that emerging countries Governments very seldom make requests!

Its the way in which they keep power.

[taipan]

Ban SL

[holcs]

Actually I'd be inclined to say:

Ban Mosquitos!

[Bradman]

I'm not being naive and I absolutely know better than most about rapacious third world countries, in fact I've known a few rapacious first world ones too.

I just wish they'd stop crapping on about democracy et al when it's a mirage. Though in India's defence they certainly picked up the lessons about 'money talks' from us pretty quickly.

[holcs]

Aye. Exactly - Its not so much the fact they are as they are (especially when you deal with them daily), it is the mirage that they put up that as you say is the bullsheet!

[Bradman]

And cricket is supposed to be a civilising influence?

Pakistan was a lot more peaceful when it was run by a cricket mad dictator educated in an English Public School.

Somethiong got lost in translation I think.

[doremi]

The ozzies touring the Windies left the IPL ...and had their IPL places filled by others ...

And that's exactly what Ranatunga was proposing. But I guess that's been vetoed by the govt.

[holcs]

Nice double standards here.

Its ok for politics to get involved when its for the good of the IPL, but in the situation of Zimbabwe it was purely cricketing and politics were not allowed to be involved.

Ban India.

[Bradman]

The world is a truly farked up place. I've decided to put up the shutters and take only an interest in sports or politics when there's juicy odds on offer.

I particularly like the Palin/Mugabe double for a year out, as both their "partners" will be dead in bed by then, for one reason or another.

[doremi]

Nice double standards here.

Its ok for politics to get involved when its for the good of the IPL, but in the situation of Zimbabwe it was purely cricketing and politics were not allowed to be involved.

Ban India.

Whether SL send their players to England or not doesn't concern the BCCI. Nor does the internal workings going on in SL. Same as in Zim. And they're right in this instance.

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