There are also three key questions: who, where and when? We have some inkling of the who but have no idea of the when and the where. What are the teams going to be called? Are they looking to establish a culture of city rivalry? If, for example, Mumbai is one of the teams, are there enough players from Mumbai for the Mumbaikar to wear a team shirt with pride? The US leagues can do that and so can the Premiership (how many London players, or for that matter England players, are there at Chelsea and Arsenal?) because they have a long history of local affiliation.

The irony of it all is that Lalit Modi wanted to start a similar league ten years ago and found the door being shut on him by the BCCI. Now Modi is in the BCCI and his organisation is shutting the door on what was really his idea! But there is an opportunity here, maybe two, for the BCCI. If more players leave the Ranji Trophy it can actually become more competitive because Indian cricket needs fewer, not more, players.

And they can start a similar league that could well be more attractive and profitable. But will they? If you are used to having people come to you to buy tickets it is very difficult to go to them to sell tickets!

I hope the ICL has a good debut though it seems that they are more at the start of a steeplechase than in the final straight. It will be good for Indian cricket and, if they want to look at it that way, best for the BCCI!