16.4.2008

LONDON: The ICC's principal advisor IS Bindra has warned cricketers against giving up their central contracts to participate in the cash-rich Indian Premier League saying the Twenty20 event will not accept any rebel.

Bindra, also a member of the IPL governing board, urged players to be patient and wait for the league to adjust itself in the cricket calendar.

"That solution (players rejecting central contracts) is not acceptable to us," Bindra said.

"We will not have any player revolting against their establishment and becoming part of the IPL," he added.

His comments came in the wake of England Cricket Board's refusal to allow its players to participate in the next edition of the IPL, which triggered speculation that the cricketers might revolt against the move.

Apart from this, a players' survey in Australia also revealed that easy money on offer in IPL was too tempting for the cricketers to resist and they were willing to give up national duty for it.

However, Bindra said the IPL does not wish to be labelled a rebel tournament by allowing revolting players to participate.

Bindra said he would speak to ECB chairman Giles Clarke during the IPL inauguration in Bangalore to work out a window for English players.

"We don't want to be a rebel league, we want to be part of the system with the support of the ECB. We are looking forward to meeting Giles Clarke and other members of the ECB during the inauguration in Bangalore," he said.

"We can make adjustments, we can postpone our league by a couple of weeks. If we can find a solution, it will be in the interest of everyone involved, including the players," Bindra said.

Bindra said all concerns about a players' revolt would be mitigated once the ICC finds a permanent slot for the IPL in the international calendar.

"The ICC have said they will try and find if they can have a permanent slot for the IPL. That will make it a lot easier for the players to know what the calendar is, what the options are. It will facilitate everyone going forward," he said.

The former BCCI chief said although he was confident of the IPL being a success, he was still keeping his fingers crossed till the first ball was bowled.

"At the end of the day, it depends how many bums are on seats and how many people are in the grounds. That is where the major success of the tournament will lie. These are early days and the real sales pick up in India a few days before the match," he said.

"In terms of marketing it's been a great success and we're looking forward to a wonderful tournament. I hope it's the beginning of a new milestone in the cricketing history of the world. In the long run, we will do a lot of good to cricket and make it truly a global sport," he said.

Bindra said despite the massive build-up, the IPL was bound to face a few hiccups initially but he was confident of a smooth run nonetheless.

"It's the first season and there will be a few hiccups, a few aberrations, but I'm sure it will settle down in a couple of years to a very smooth and very significant league that will become a prominent part of world cricket," he said. IPL - TTI

Courtesy - SNNI