ICL goes Grand - announces ‘ICL 20s Grand Championship’
by CricketArchive
| Player: | AC Parore, DR Martyn, HH Streak, MTG Elliott, MS Kasprowicz, Mohammad Sami, Mushtaq Ahmed, N Pothas, MW Goodwin, Saqlain Mushtaq, TL Best, WW Hinds |
DateLine: 29th February 2008
• Matches commence from March 9th to April 7th
• Championship to be held in three venues across the country
• The League adds 2 new teams – Ahmedabad Rockets & Lahore Badshahs
• Adds high stature international players
• Matches to be shown Live on Ten Sports & Zee Sports
Mumbai, February 29, 2008: The Indian Cricket League (ICL) today announced
its forthcoming tournament ‘ICL 20s Grand Championship.’ The Tournament
promises 30-days of non-stop pulsating cricket starting March 9th to April
7th which will be held in three locations – Hyderabad, Chandigarh
(Panchkula) and Gurgaon. Two new teams – Ahmedabad Rockets and Lahore
Badshahs have also been added to the existing six teams, making the
tournament more comprehensive and competitive. With international
cricketers of high stature being added to the league, the quality of
cricket is expected to be on par with international standards.
Starting March 9th viewers can watch the high-octane 20over format matches
on Ten Sports & Zee Sports. With a match every evening and double headers
on specific week-ends, the tournament will have in total 34 matches. Each
team will play against each other once in the league format, followed by
semi-finals, third position classification match concluding with the best
of three match finals.
Announcing the Grand Championship, Kapil Dev, Chairman, Executive Board,
Indian Cricket League (ICL) said, “Our first two tournaments have produced
some high quality cricket. We are delighted to have added a new impressive
player base which includes some quality fast bowlers, crafty spinners &
explosive batsmen. Their participation in the league will provide the
younger generation of cricketers valuable insights which will help them
with their game. Personally, I am happy to see Pakistan being represented
by the Lahore Badshah. We all have some great cricketing moments playing
with them and I would like to see history repeat itself in the ICL.”
The Grand Championship will feature eight teams - Chennai Superstars,
Delhi Giants, Mumbai Champs, Hyderabad Heroes, Kolkata Tigers, Chandigarh
Lions, Ahmedabad Rockets and Lahore Badshahs.
After two successful editions starting with the inaugural ICL 20-20 Indian
Championship held at Chandigarh (Panchkula) and the keenly contested
domestic ICL 50’s held at Chennai & Hyderabad, this edition of the Grand
Championship with a larger player base & multiple venue platform, will
take league cricket in India to a new level.
About the Indian Cricket League (ICL)
The ICL aims to achieve the right combination of international and
promising domestic players for every regional team to make ICL as the most
competitive domestic league in the country. It involves identifying
talented young players from all over India and providing them a platform
to harness their cricketing skills to the best of their potential. Another
forthcoming initiative of ICL will be to set up a nation-wide
infrastructure (cricket academies) equipped with state-of-the-art
facilities. These academies will be headed by international & domestic
coaches who have revolutionized the game.
New players to watch out for in Grand Championship!!!
(In Alphabetical Order)
• Adam Parore: One of the most consistent wicketkeeper batsman in
international cricket, Adam has played the role of a senior pro for the
New-Zealand bowlers from the pivotal wicketkeeper position and would be
expected to translate the same cricketing stature at the ICL grand
championship in March.
• Avishka Gunawardane: the explosive left hand opening batsman from
Sri-Lanka known for his attacking exploits with the bat in the
international circuit . Avishka is a sure bet to enthrall the cricketing
loving public in the twenty over format at the ICL grand championship in
the march edition of the ICl .
• Damien Martyn: Epitomizing grace in his batting exploits, this stylist
middle-order batsman brings elegance and solidarity to the batting
exhibition at display in the ICL.
• Heath Streak: An integral part of the mercurial ascendancy of the
Zimbabwe in world cricket. Streak being one of the best all-rounder of
the last decade would be one of the major stars on display with both bat
and ball.
• Matthew Elliott: A technically competent opening batsman, Wisden
Cricketer of the year 1998 and rich experience of being player-coach of
the South Australian side, helps him fit in the ICL objective of taking
Indian cricket to a new pedestal
• Michael Kasprowicz: the tall well-built Queenslander has always been
known as the fast bowler with a big heart. A sub-continent specialist for
the Australian side, his work ethics make him the ideal international star
team mate needed by a promising domestic player to take his performance to
the next level.
• Mohammad Sami: One of the fastest bowlers of the last decade of
international cricket, Sami with his slippery pace provides the challenge
for young ICL domestic players to test their skills against one of the
quickest bowlers in the world
• Murray Goodwin: A destructive top order batsman who has played the game
with distinction at the highest level. His quick foot work, attacking
stroke play & superb fielding skills make him an ideal player for the fast
paced twenty over format game
• Mushtaq Ahmed : the master of the googly who has been instrumental for
Surrey’s success in the English county , Mushy as he is known to his mates
will display high quality leg spin for the fans of the ICL . His
combination with Saqlain is arguably the most potent spin combination at
ICL .
• Nic Pothas : The South African wicket keeper is the ideal modern day
wicketkeeper with all round abilities both with the bat and gloves .
Flexible with his batting order, Nic comes with a very successful stint of
big scores for Hampshire in the English county championship.
• Saqlain Mushtaq : The inventor of the Doosra ,that changed the
dimensions of Off – spin bowling in the world of cricket will add to ICL
the much needed spin attack for the Badshah side .
• Tino Best: Dynamite is the right metaphor to be used for this 5.8 fast
bowler. Exuberance and speed are virtues of his trademark qualities as a
fast bowler .
• Wavell Hinds: A free flowing left hand opening batsman from Jamaica, who
with his aggressive batting makes an ideal player for the twenty over
format.
