The Indian Cricket League today received support from an unexpected quarter
with West Bengal Sports Minister Subhash Chakraborty saying the
multi-million dollar breakaway league would be allowed to use the Eden Gardens
and other grounds.
The Minister said all the grounds belonging to the state government would be made
available for the ICL and the players would get all the support.
"Whatever facilities we have, we will make available to
the boys who have been punished, particularly by the CAB. I have no objection.
All the fields will be available for them as all the fields are available for
CAB. The owner of the fields is the state government not any other body,"
he told NDTV.
"The Eden Gardens was looked after by CAB. Now the lease
period is over and it is state government's property. If Kapil and others like
to play in Eden Gardens, I would allow it. What is the harm in it?" he
said.
The maverick minister's public support for the Subhash Chandra-owned
Essel Group's cash-rich venture has come as a surprise as the current CAB President
Prasun Mukherjee, who is also the city Police Commissioner, has the backing
of the Sharad Pawar led BCCI regime.
The BCCI has decided not to recognise the league and has barred
all the defecting players from playing for India or at the domestic level, besides
withdrawing all financial benefits.
The ICL has managed to lure as many as 44 Indian first class
cricketers and seven overseas players, including West Indies batting great Brian
Lara and former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq, in the initial list for
its proposed Twenty20 tournament expected to be held in September-October.
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