BCCI launches Indian Cricket League

New Delhi:

It's now official. Subhash Chandra's Indian Cricket League (ICL) can peacefully co-exist with the BCCI's Indian Premier League.

But it would only be in their benefit if they were to join the party it seems.

"The way I see things is that there is room for everybody. We cannot chase anybody who wants to be part of cricket. ICL will be able to move on. But at the end of the day its best to be inside the big tent where everybody is," said Ray Mali, President, International Cricket Council.

However, any say on that matter will depend of the BCCI and as of the moment the doors are firmly closed.

"The Indian Premier League and The Champions Twenty20 League will put too rest anybody being a serious threat to World Cricket and any of our leagues going forward" Lalit Modi, Vice President, BCCI.

While the Board has made it quite clear that the launch of the IPL has nothing to do with the ICL, there's no denying that the breakaway's leagues effort to prize away some of the young talent in India has hurt the BCCI.

No wonder then that for once it's the players who seem to priority number one for the organisers.

"You will see that this will take Cricket to the next level especially for the betterment and welfare of the players. The biggest beneficiary from this will be the players," said Dr Nasim Ashraf, Chairman, Pakistan Cricket Board.

"I think the success of Twenty20 Cricket at domestic level in England, South Africa and Australia is demonstrable and I think the exciting launch of the IPL here in India is a fantastic concept. It's a no brainer. It will be a success," said James Sutherland, Chief Executive Officer, Cricket Australia.

For a format of the game of cricket that was persona non grata for the BCCI till just over a year ago, embracing it the way they have makes the mind boggle. And there's no denying that they will now milk the cow for every drop possible.