| MUMBAI:
Last month the American Sports and Entertainment Group had announced the launch
of the American Premier League (APL) cricket event. The
first edition is due to take place in October in New York and will have six sides.
Players like Inzamam Ul Haq are believed to be interested in taking part in this
event. Like
the ICL, the APL too is a private venture. Not surprisingly the International
Cricket Council (ICC) has taken a rigid stance to this, similar to what they have
done to the Indian Cricket League (ICL). The ICC has urged the United States America
Cricket Association (USACA) to develop a Twenty20 tournament on the lines of the
Indian Premier League (IPL). Media
reports state that the hope is that this will act as a counter to the APL. The
ICC's principal advisor IS Bindra has been quoted in reports saying that the USACA
should like the IPL look at private ownership for teams, each of which can have
a mix of foreign and local players. The
USACA, reports addss, was twice suspended by the ICC for its dysfunctional administration
and readmitted last year after elections were held. Meanwhile
IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi has been quoted in reports saying that
it will be difficult for the APL to be a viable proposition unless the ICC endorses
it. Seeing how cricket's governing body rejected the ICL's plea for official recognition,
it appears most unlikely that the APL will be endorsed. Australian
pace bowler Jason Gillespie has been contracted by the APL. He has been quoted
in reports expressing disappointment at the ICC's opposition to the APL. | 
