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MUMBAI:
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) better watch
out. Subhash Chandra promoted Essel Group's Indian Cricket
League (ICL), a parallel cricket format, continues to expand
its list of star cricketers.
After
roping in Kapil Dev and Tony Greig on the executive board,
it has now signed in former West Indian cricketer Brian Lara
as captain of one of ICL's six city teams.
ICL
project head Himanshu Mody said, "We are extremely honored
to welcome Brian to the ICL family. I think the youngsters
we are grooming for India’s future will benefit immensely
from playing alongside him in the ICL."
Lara
said, "It gives me great pleasure to join the Indian
Cricket League. You can’t keep me too far from cricket
and hence I return to the game in this exciting new avatar
that the Essel Group has launched. I look forward to playing
with promising youngsters from India and elsewhere along with
some of my illustrious international counterparts who I’ve
shared many an exciting moment with on the field."
In
other appointments, ICL has roped in ex-India all-rounder
Madan Lal as coach of the Delhi team and Balwinder Sandhu
has been named as Director of Academies.
Lal
is expected to 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. Sandhu will be responsible for grooming
the talent identified through scouting in all the regions.
Also,
former cricketers Pranab Roy and Rajesh Chauhan have been
appointed as talent scouts for the league. Both will be involved
in identification, short-listing and channeling of talent
in their respective zones.
Said
Lal on his appointment, "In the role of a coach in the
ICL, I propose to inculcate character in the team and create
a brand of cricket which possesses killer instinct. Players
will be conditioned to showcase power and speed on the field,
as we can no longer afford to buckle under pressure and limp
to defeats. International stars alongside young promise, is
a perfect recipe for the future of Indian cricket."
Speaking
about his role Sandhu said, "I endorse the structure
and the system of the ICL. In the past I have been the head
coach at the NCA and have been the coach for the U-19 team,
both of which will stand me in good stead in performing my
duties."
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