Chandra does a Packer with India Cricket League

Sets up body with Rs 100 crore corpus to rival BCCI.

In a daring move reminiscent of Australian media giant Kerry Packer, the Subhash Chandra-promoted Essel Group today announced the launch of India Cricket League (ICL), a body parallel to the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI), to promote cricketing talent in the country.

The Essel Group had lost out on the rights for all cricket matches, one-dayers as well as Tests, organised by BCCI in India up to 2011. Today's move will help it develop cricketing content for its fledgling sports channel, Zee Sports.

The venture will initially have a corpus of Rs 100 crore and will have six teams, each comprising four international cricketers, two Indian cricketers and eight young talents. The number of teams will grow to 16 within three years. ICL will also set up nation-wide residential cricket academies that will nurture young talent.

For creating infrastructure, the Essel Group is partnering Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Company. A pool of 65 ex-cricketers has been drawn up by the group to act as selectors and scout for talent.

Making the announcement, Subhash Chandra, chairman of the Essel Group, said the break-away league would initially be played in the one-day and 20-20 format.

"The big attraction of the league, apart from the presence of international players, will be the prize money of $1 million (Rs 4.3 crore)," Chandra said.

According to him, the Essel Group has intimated the BCCI of its plans. "We expect full co-operation from the BCCI. The ICL will present it with a reserve bench of young cricketers; so why will they mind it?" he wondered.

However, BCCI Vice-President Lalit Modi said Subhash Chandra will need permission from both BCCI and the International Cricket Council (ICC) for roping in any international or Indian player. Also, BCCI does not permit private parties to organise such leagues, he added.

The league is expected to start its work by August do tournaments like this.

The ICL will give full-time jobs to both budding cricketing talents as well as ex-cricketers. ICL will also appoint its own umpires and doctors specialising in sports medicine.

"We will make our officials and cricketers accountable. No one will have free lunches here," Chandra said, hinting at the present BCCI structure under which all official posts are on honourary basis.