Support ICL says NZ Players Association

The manager of the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association Heath Mills has called on the ICC to support the rebel Indian Cricket League.

Mills told the NZ Herald that “The ideal scenario from my point of view would be for the ICC to support it as long as it didn’t impinge upon international cricket. I can’t see many negatives of third-party funding coming into cricket and another professional league would give players an opportunity to earn more income, just like those who go to county cricket.”

“What would concern me greatly was if the league was not sanctioned and it became a ‘rebel’ league. Our guys would be hugely at risk.”

Mills said countries like New Zealand where the salary of players were not that high compared to Australia, England and South Africa were under threat with the ICL offering figures in the range of one million dollars for playing in the tournament.

As yet Brian Lara is the only international player to have signed, but news is Pakistan batsman Imran Farhat has all but signed on the dotted line already.

The ICC will meet in early September to discuss the league and decide whether to endorse it or not.