ECB and BCCI reach IPL agreement

[Chandan]

BCCI, ECB throw weight to get the best bargains Anand Vasu, Hindustan Times New Delhi, November 18, 2008 First Published: 22:51 IST(18/11/2008) Last Updated: 00:01 IST(19/11/2008) When representatives of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and their English counterparts met in Mumbai on Nov 15, one of the central points of discussion was the ECB's demand for a place on the governing council of the Champions League. The league was conceived jointly by the cricket boards of India, Australia and South Africa and the governing council of six has representatives of these boards but no place at the table for England. India have three representatives — Lalit Modi, N Srinivasan and Niranjan Shah, Australia two — James Sutherland and Dean Kino (head of legal for the league) and South Africa's Gerald Majola. England are keen to ensure that they are not left out. While the spotlight was on the Indian board's request to shift the Ahmedabad Test by a day to December 12 — to allow Mahendra Singh Dhoni to play the final of the Champions League should his team make it that far — it was far from the only issue discussed. If the two boards can agree terms, much bigger things could be in the offing. Lalit Modi has already indicated that there's little chance of the Ahmedabad Test being postponed by a day and sections of the ECB who have been pushing for the "primacy of Test cricket" to be preserved at all costs will be well pleased. But Giles Clarke and David Collier were talking to their Indian counterparts about a lot more than just shifting a Test match by a day. A source close to the discussions told Hindustan Times from London that the November 15 Mumbai meeting was as much about future co-operation between the two boards as it was about finding a way to allow England's players to take part in the IPL, something that will pave the way for India's cricketers to play in a similar Twenty20 tournament in England. Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff have already expressed their keenness to be a part of the IPL and England's players are reportedly holding off signing central contracts with the ECB till the IPL matter is sorted out. The ECB has proposed that India and England play each other in five-Test series (now reserved only for Icon Series) home and away every two years, with ODI series of five matches thrown in for good measure. The International Cricket Council's current FTP cycle comes to an end in 2012, and the ECB has proposed that India and England play each other in this increased frequency from 2013 onwards. India and England have not played each other in a five-match series since the 1950s and the move will work well for England, who are one of the few countries who generate huge revenues from Test cricket. However, the one issue that remains a thorn in the flesh is the participation of England's cricketers in the IPL. The ECB has told the Indian board that it had no problems with releasing its players to take part in the cash-rich Twenty20 tournament, but only if the tournament was completed in April. However India tour New Zealand for a five-ODI two-Test series early next year and will only return on April 8. ___________________________________________________________ I'll be delighted if that happens but 2013 is still a long time away. Don't India England play with esch other in the coming 4 years?

[fineleg]

all eyewash...Lalit $ Modi will make sure T20 dominates in qty over Test cricket

[Kartikey]

wow... a five match series would be awesome.

[King Tendulkar]

I really hope the ECB gets its way here and we play a 5 tests match series

[sharma]

too much cricket i think... indian players already playing in ipl, modi said they can play in the aussie t20 tourney too. now they'll have to play (if modi agrees) in the ecb t20, soon saf will also come up with a similar idea... add to that actually playing for india! lol i think ind shouldnt agree to this ind-eng 5 match series thing. we are moving towards a rivalry with aus that competes with the ashes, no need to give eng a slice of the india pie, considering they were the ones with the biggest problems when it came to ipl, now that the stanford thing hasnt worked for them, they wanna go to bed with modi. i hope modi is sensible, and doesnt kill the golden egg laying goose...doesnt overwork the indian players

[SachDan]

I really hope the ECB gets its way here and we play a 5 tests match series

sadly Tendu won't be a part of such a delightful series.its scheduled for 2013 :((

[Guest Hiten.]

BS. I don't buy the crap of India playing England in a 5 match series. Why ? Because it is nothing but tiresome and useless. England and India clashes have never been an eye candy. IMO, both the teams will have to fight out their skins (against each other)to prove their tussle is worth of a 5 match series. If there ever was a need for a 5 match series, then it has to be India and Australia. Having a 5 match series vs England, is overkill.

[Cricketics]

^ who carez haa?? History shows that India has never won convincingly against England consistently. in 2002, we won by just 1-0 at home. then in England it was a drawn series. then in India it was again a Drawn series the last one. then in England last year we won by just 1-0 not like we thrashed them 3-0 or something. then here lets see how we won. hoping for 2-0 and also hoping for a 5 match test series in the near future

[sm332]

this would be great ...by the way when was the last time we played a 5 match test series? 1995-96 in Windies?

[guju24]

its always fun watching test cricket...i think 5 test series would be good idea...

[cowboysfan]

you guys realize its never going to happen right?-just checking.

[SachDan]

this would be great ...by the way when was the last time we played a 5 match test series? 1995-96 in Windies?

Yup.Against West Indies in 1996-97

[PaiN_KiLLeR]

The 2001-02 series against WI was a 5 test series as well. Not sure about England, but all our test series against Australia and Pakistan should be 5 match series.

[Lord]

The 2001-02 series against WI was a 5 test series as well. Not sure about England, but all our test series against Australia and Pakistan should be 5 match series.

pakistan? not anymore

[Kartikey]

The 2001-02 series against WI was a 5 test series as well. Not sure about England, but all our test series against Australia and Pakistan should be 5 match series.

No point, cuz both us and them prepare flat pancakes.

[h4te]

won't happen. we'll get a 5 20/20 series, though :((

[SachDan]

The 2001-02 series against WI was a 5 test series as well. Not sure about England, but all our test series against Australia and Pakistan should be 5 match series.

No point' date=' cuz both us and them prepare flat pancakes.[/quote'] Yeah..and also frequent bilateral tours are hampering real essence of Ind-Pak contests.

[CSK Fan]

BS. I don't buy the crap of India playing England in a 5 match series. Why ? Because it is nothing but tiresome and useless. England and India clashes have never been an eye candy. IMO' date=' both the teams will have to fight out their skins (against each other)to prove their tussle is worth of a 5 match series. If there ever was a need for a 5 match series, then it has to be India and Australia. Having a 5 match series vs England, is overkill.[/quote'] It will be surely better than playing SEVEN meaningless ODIs and just two tests? Reduce ODIs and increase tests

[BERGKAMP]

This is what I think we should have against the other teams - Aus - 5 tests, 5 T20, 3 ODI Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, England - 3 Tests, 5 T20, 2 ODI West Indies, New Zealand - 2 Tests, 3 T20, 2 ODI Bangladesh - 1 Test, 3 T20

[guju24]

pakistan? not anymore

unless they play in Abu dhabi or Sharjah