ICC probes rebel plot
The International Cricket Council is investigating the registration
of certain company names after concerns that there might be a plot to
establish a rebel cricket organisation. Reports claim Indian media firm
the Essel Group has registered company names to rival cricket-playing
nations. Essel has stated that it is "geared up to enter the sports
business at a global level, focusing on cricket".
But the ICC said the registrations were of "concern to the sport of
cricket". However, Angus Porter, the chief executive of the Professional
Cricketers' Association (PCA) - the cricket players' union in England -
told the BBC none of his members have reported an approach to be
recruited for a rebel league. Essel, owned by billionaire Subhash
Chandra, was the driving force behind the ill-fated rebel Indian Cricket
League which collapsed after two years in 2009.
And in an interview in the Guardian newspaper, Lalit Modi - the
creator of the Indian Cricket League - says that he walked away from
discussions with Chandra to create a rival to the ICC - world cricket's
governing body. Modi said the project had been in planning for "years"
but withdrew from talks as he thought it could not be achieved. But he
said: "If Chandra puts money on the table things could start very
quickly.
The ICC should be fearing him." The Essel Group has attempted to
register company names such as "Australian Cricket Control Pty Ltd" and
the "Cricket Association of England", which concerned the English and
Wales Cricket Board.
Cricket Australia also dismissed as "highly speculative" media
reports that Australia players Michael Clarke and David Warner could be
offered £26m contracts over 10 years. Cricket Australia chairman Wally
Edwards said: "As it stands, Australia's cricketers are the highest-paid
athletes of any team sport in the country and the earnings of our
top-ranked players would already be close to the numbers referenced in
today's media reports.
"But our pay structure is broader than that. It's about supporting
professional cricket at both international and domestic level. The
success of international cricket directly subsidises the wages of state
cricketers. Any proposed rebel league would jeopardise that."
BBC
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