Brian Lara joins Indian Cricket League

The Essel Group's India Cricket League (ICL), the proposed parallel cricket league in the country, has announced the inclusion of West Indian cricketer Brian Lara in its management that already has former Indian captain Kapil Dev among other prominent cricketers.

Himanshu Mody, the project head for the ICL, said, "Lara, one of the greatest-ever batsmen that the world has ever seen, brings his immense talent and experience to the ICL."

Speaking from London, Lara said, "It gives me great pleasure to join the cricket league. I am happy to return to the game in this exciting new avatar that the Essel Group has launched. I look forward to playing with promising youngsters of India."

The Indian Cricket League has also announced the inclusion of former all-rounder Madan Lal to coach the Delhi team of the ICL. Madan Lal, one of the heroes of the '83 World Cup triumph, will play an active role in shaping the Delhi team and training it for success in the inaugural ICL Trophy to be held later this year.

His team-mate and member of the World Cup winning team, Balwinder Sandhu, was named director of academies responsible for grooming of talents.

Mody said Madan Lal would bring with him years of experience both as a talented cricketer, who played for many years at the international level, and as an accomplished coach, who has coached at both the national as well as the regional level.

"I am sure that under Madan Lal's tutelage, the Delhi team will produce future stars, who will shine bright in Indian cricket. Sandhu, with his wealth of experience in coaching youngsters at every level, will ensure the right talent gets channelled into the system and is then given the right coaching and training."

The ICL also announced the signing of Pranab Roy and Rajesh Chauhan as talent scouts for the league. Their roles will include identification and short-listing of promising talent in their respective zones.