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In a first since the Zee group launched the Indian Cricket League (ICL) more than a year ago, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials have agreed to discuss the issue of banning the ICL players from all 'official' cricket.
This was one of the two major decisions taken on the first day of the ICC board meeting in Dubai.
ICL officials have welcomed the proposed meeting with Shashank Manohar, the BCCI president, and said they hoped for an "early resolution" to their quest for official recognition. However, Cricinfo quoted a senior board official as saying that nothing much should be read into the ICC board's decision, "because it does not in any way indicate a result".
The ICL has sought official sanction under Rule 32 of the ICC operations manual that deal with authorised unofficial cricket.
But, Manohar and Lalit Modi, a BCCI vice-president, are on a five-member ICC sub-committee that has worked on "new regulations governing official and unofficial cricket" that were discussed at the board meeting yesterday.
Very soon
ICL officials, however, indicated that they expected Manohar to meet Subhash Chandra, the chairman of Essel group that owns ICL, "very soon". "We will be in dialogue with BCCI and we hope the outcome suits all," Chandra said.
"The ICL has always worked towards promoting the game and players," Himanshu Mody, the ICL's business head, said in a statement. "We hope the outcome of discussions between the BCCI and ICL will benefit players at large. We look forward to an early resolution."
The BCCI, on the other hand, views the situation differently, according to an official. "The only resolution that can be looked at is one where the ICL agrees to operate within the BCCI's parameters," the official told Cricinfo. "Till then, the announcement of the meeting is just a statement of fact, and nothing more. It's not as significant as it is being made out to be." Manohar will submit a report of his discussions with the ICL to the ICC board.
Superstars beat Rockets
Meanwhile, in Hyderadbad, Chennai Superstars smashed Ahmedabad Rockets yesterday to win their second successive match in the second edition of the ICL.
Brief scores: Chennai Superstars 135/5 in 16 overs (R Arnold 46, G Vignesh 38; R Sodhi 2/25) bt Ahmedabad Rockets 107/8 in 16 overs (D Martyn 52 ; Shabbir 3/21).
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