For the first time ever, since the formation of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the International Cricket Councl (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have formally met, discussed and emerged with a few vital decisions that will eventually have a large role to play in the league’s high-profile ten-year programme.

When the ICC board met in Dubai for a two-day working committee meeting, the first day was spent agreeing upon an official policy regarding the IPL. The ICC board stressed on a few points and the BCCI, which according to the ICC represented the meeting as the owner of the IPL, agreed to the terms and will now sign a standard-form contract with all the full member nations.

The biggest surprise to come out of the meeting is that the BCCI did not, according to the release, put in a formal request to include the IPL in the ICC’s Future Tours Programme. Such an inclusion would have provided franchise owners some relief, keeping in mind the amount of money that has been spent.

The ICC board raised five issues which are bound to directly or indirectly concern the IPL. Certain points, such as nation-versus-nation cricket being given high priority and IPL introducing a Code of Conduct, an anti-corruption code and anti-doping code according to ICC regulations are mandatory, and can be easily accommodated.

However, once the franchise owners of the league come across some other issues raised and agreed upon, there is bound to be a bit of quiver in the otherwise smooth proceedings.

... contd.