The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : More and Badani hopeful of a solution

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 23, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Cricket

More and Badani hopeful of a solution

Principal Correspondent

Ahmedabad: It is a ritual that repeats before every Indian Cricket League match here. An hour before a game, team flags, posters featuring the number six and a whistle are placed on all chairs before the fans arrive.

Perhaps, the ICL officials want to spice up the spectators’ passion. And passion has never been in short supply from fans.

And the cricket has been intense too. “Look at the teams’ fitness and fielding standards. Players admit that they did not get this kind of support staff when they played for their States. The crowd response is good and the gates are open to students,” said Kiran More, tournament director.

The support staff, have their own challenges. “It is such a shame that they don’t get to play first class games and the lay-off means we have to give these players, specific off-season training charts. The challenge is in handling the fitness of players in age groups ranging from the senior International cricketers to the junior crop,” said Michael Haddin, strength and conditioning coach of Hyderabad Heroes.

The BCCI’s ban on ICL players from playing first class games is a sore point with the cricketers. “I miss the game’s longer version and there is no active cricket for about eight months. The only cricket I get is these four months with the ICL,” Hemang Badani of Chennai Superstars said. Another cricketer who refused to be named, said: “We have lost our jobs. In Chennai we used to represent our companies in the league but we have been fired.”

More believes that there will be a solution.

“I am sure the BCCI will recognise what we are doing but it will take time,” More said while Badani added: “There is nothing wrong here. I am positive that there will be a way out.”

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport

News Update

Stories in this Section

Big challenge ahead of Australia

Australia was outclassed

Sania Mirza winds up training at Delhi on a positive note

Chance for aspirants to catch the eye

Cricket

Marsh replaces Jaques

All-round show by Yogesh Nagar

Thrilling win for Karnataka

Superstars beats Heroes

Sreesanth not included