The Indian Premiere League which is organising Twenty Twenty Cricket matches to be conducted in the month of April, 2008 has roped in International players from all parts of the world from all leading cricket playing countries of the world like Australia,New Zealand,South Africa, Pakistan, West Indies, Sri Lanka and India.
Popular leagues like Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkatta, Bangaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mohali have already began recruiting players to their teams through open bidding conducted in a fivestar hotel here in Mumbai.
All leagues have players of icon status like Tendulkar for Mumbai,Ganguli for Kolkatta, Virendar Sehwag for Delhi, Yuvaraj Singh for Mohali,Dravid for Bangaluru.International players have been recruited according to their standing and current form.
M.S.Dhoni and Andrew Symonds were the hot favourites and their bid being the highest as much as 6 crores and 5.4 crores for them respectively.
Australian players like Ricky Ponting was auctioned for $ 400,000, Mathew Heydon for $ 350,000, the latest fast bowling sensation Ishant Sharma for $950,000,V.V.S.Laxman for $ 350,000. and the other international players involved in the bid were Sharne Warne,Muthaiah Murlidharan, Sanath Jayasuriya,Shoib Akthar,Asif Iqbal,Hershle Gibbs, Jack Kallis,Chris Gayle,Gilchrist, Jayavardhane, Sangakkara, Malinga, Dilharo Fernando, Stephen Fleming, Scott Tyris, Jacob Oram etc
The bidding of the players for an unprecedented value has evoked surprise and raised many an eyebrows.Some old stalwarts like Syed Kirmani are even sceptical about the bidding and the players output, in case they suffer from injuries.
Let us wait and see, how far the IPL is successful and the franchise holders of the respective regions like India Cements for Chennai, Sharuk Khan for Kolkatta, Vijay Mallaiya for Bangaluru.Once Kapil Dev said that the main reason for the waning standard of Indian cricket and for the lack of consistency among players, as "it is for the mercenaries to blame !’ Will it not apply to ICL or IPL ?