The rebel Indian Cricket League gets ready to kick off for yet another
season of exciting T-20 action between eight teams packed with loads of international
cricket superstars this coming Sunday 9th February 2008 at the Pachakula stadium
in Mohali. With the rival IPL coming up in just over a month's time, it is now
or never for ICL as they face the battle to stand out and win or to be
thrown away into obscurity by a much powerful and potent Indian Premier League.
Ahmedabad Rockets v Chandigarh Lions To be played at Panchkula On the Mar 9, 2008
Delhi Giants v Mumbai Champs To be played at Panchkula On the Mar 10, 2008
Chennai Superstars v Lahore Badshahs To be played at Panchkula On the Mar 11, 2008
Kolkata Tigers v Mumbai Champs To be played at Panchkula On the Mar 12, 2008
Hyderabad Heroes v Lahore Badshahs To be played at Panchkula On the Mar 13, 2008
Chandigarh Lions v Delhi Giants To be played at Panchkula On the Mar 15, 2008
Chennai Superstars v Hyderabad Heroes To be played at Hyderabad (Decc) On the Mar 15, 2008
Ahmedabad Rockets v Delhi Giants To be played at Panchkula On the Mar 16, 2008
Chandigarh Lions v Lahore Badshahs To be played at Panchkula On the Mar 16, 2008
Chennai Superstars v Kolkata Tigers To be played at Hyderabad (Decc) On the Mar 17, 2008
Ahmedabad Rockets v Mumbai Champs To be played at Panchkula On the Mar 18, 2008
Hyderabad Heroes v Kolkata Tigers To be played at Hyderabad (Decc) On the Mar 19, 2008
Chennai Superstars v Delhi Giants To be played at Hyderabad (Decc) On the Mar 20, 2008
Ahmedabad Rockets v Hyderabad Heroes To be played at Hyderabad (Decc) On the Mar 21, 2008
Lahore Badshahs v Mumbai Champs To be played at Panchkula On the Mar 21, 2008
Ahmedabad Rockets v Kolkata Tigers To be played at Hyderabad (Decc) On the Mar 22, 2008
Chandigarh Lions v Chennai Superstars To be played at Panchkula On the Mar 22, 2008
Chennai Superstars v Mumbai Champs To be played at Panchkula On the Mar 23, 2008
Delhi Giants v Lahore Badshahs To be played at Gurgaon On the Mar 23, 2008
Delhi Giants v Hyderabad Heroes To be played at Gurgaon On the Mar 24, 2008
Chandigarh Lions v Mumbai Champs To be played at Panchkula On the Mar 25, 2008
Kolkata Tigers v Lahore Badshahs To be played at Gurgaon On the Mar 26, 2008
Chandigarh Lions v Kolkata Tigers To be played at Gurgaon On the Mar 27, 2008
Ahmedabad Rockets v Chennai Superstars To be played at Hyderabad (Decc) On the Mar 28, 2008
Chandigarh Lions v Hyderabad Heroes To be played at Hyderabad (Decc) On the Mar 29, 2008
Ahmedabad Rockets v Lahore Badshahs To be played at Gurgaon On the Mar 30, 2008
Delhi Giants v Kolkata Tigers To be played at Gurgaon On the Mar 30, 2008
Hyderabad Heroes v Mumbai Champs To be played at Hyderabad (Decc) On the Mar 31, 2008
1st Semi Final: To be played at Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, Hyderabad, Deccan On the Apr 2, 2008
2nd Semi Final: To be played at Tau Devi Lal Cricket Stadium, Panchkula, Chandigarh On the Apr 3, 2008
3rd Place Play-off: To be played at Tau Devi Lal Cricket Stadium, Panchkula, Chandigarh On the Apr 4, 2008
1st Final: To be played at Tau Devi Lal Cricket Stadium, Panchkula, Chandigarh On the Apr 4, 2008
2nd Final: To be played at Teri Oval, Gual Pahari, Gurgaon On the Apr 6, 2008
3rd Final: To be played at Teri Oval, Gual Pahari, Gurgaon On the Apr 7, 2008
The current ICL sees the addition of two new cricket teams in Ahmedabad Rockets
and Lahore Badsahs, with the latter consisting entirely of Pakistani players.
Unlike the IPL which is recognized by other cricket boards around the world,
the ICL is yet to achieve that status and the cricket players participating
in this mega event held by Zee face the risk of being abandoned by the respective
cricket board. The likes of New Zealand, Pakistan, England and Australia have
already taken strict action in this regards and it is unlikely that we may see
the likes of Azhar Mahmmod, Shabbir Ahmad, Imran Farhat, Shane Bond or Andre
Adams in international cricket action ever again following their participation
here. The second edition of the ICL is based on a round robin format
where every team meets up with the remaining seven teams in the course of twenty
days to decide which of the four teams would make it through to the semifinals
of the event.
Chennai Superstars do look the strongest team on paper and will be hoping
to make a strong impact and retain both the trophies that they won six months
back. On the other hand, the likes of Hyderabad Heroes and Kolkotta Tigers
are more than capable of turning around a game in a couple of overs with the
likes of Lance Klusener, Abdul Razzaq and Andre Adams in them. However, of all
the teams it is the Lahore Badsahs which look the most likely to give Chennai
superstars a run for their money with both the cricket bat and ball in this
rebel players league. Dubbed as "mini Pakistan" the Lahore Badsahs
are almost as strong as the Pakistan international cricket outfit themselves
and the likes of Saqlain Mustaq, Mohammad Sami and Imran Nazir will be hoping
to prove detectors wrong when the ICL gets under way at the Pachakula this coming
Sunday. With hordes of cricket fans following this unique player league through
live cricket broadcast online or via TV and with the help of live online cricket
scores, there is excitement and hope aplenty for a brilliant month of world
class cricket in front of us.
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