Kapil Dev as Chairman of the ICL to start on October

May 15: After India's World Cup exit, the Essel Group few days back had announced to run a parallel cricket league to BCCI that is like an Indian version of the league made by Australian business man Kerry Packer nearly three decades back. Yesterday, announcing its further plans, the representative of the Essel group that also runs Zee Sports TV Channel announced the name of the executive board. Former Indian cricket team captain Kapil Dev will be the chairman of the purposed Indian Cricket League (ICL).

The ICL has also selected former captain of England Tony Craig, the former Australian Batsman Dean Jones and former Indian wicketkeeper Kiran More as members of the executive board. The ICL is scheduled to lunch later this year with a plan of six teams in the initial stage. However, initial matches will be in the Twenty-20 format.

ICL to be set up in an estimated budget of 100 crore will feature four International players and 2 players from the national team in each of the six teams. Other players will be selected form all parts of India. But the selection process for the eight domestic players in each team will not be based on any zonal or state level selection process.

Zee plans to set up cricket academies with all modern facilities to groom Indian talents across the country. The group will also appoint members in all states to search young talents to play in the ICL.

Expressing his gladness, Kapil Dev told reporters that it’s a good and bold effort by the Zee Group that will really help in developing strong Indian team. “This will not act against the interest of the Board of Cricket Control India (BCCI) but will provide it some of the best talents who can represent India�, he said.

Tony Greig mentioned that ICL will provide the right platform with all facilities to young Indian in playing cricket along with superstars of International Cricket that can boost their confidence.

Subhash Chandra, the chairman of Essel Group and Zee Telefilms in a statement said that the game should be run by the people who have played it at the highest level and hence the choice of the members.