Indian cricket’s World Cup debacle has generated a lot of heartburn among the fans, but at the corporate level, the interest seems to be straining to grow. Today, a parallel national cricket league was announced, and though claims were that this would not butt into the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s activities, the very basic nature of ‘talent pool’ runs in the face of such logic.

At a press conference here today, Essel Group and Infrastructure Leasing & Finance announced the Indian Cricket League which, according to Subhas Chandra, chairman of Essel Group and Zee Telefilms Ltd, will draw from the national talent pool to make a “professional league”.

He said that the league will carry a prize purse of $1 million, which though in itself is small compared to the amount of money sloshing in the Indian cricketing system, is good enough to keep drawing on raw talent and that “competitive” and not “placid” wickets will be provided to the players.

He said six “clubs” (not identified) will be playing in the first year of the league and that the league is expected to grow.

Zee will be the obvious broadcasters, but it was not spelled out if it will be Zee Sports. Zee Sports already hold the rights to the National Football League.

Matches will be played in the Twenty20 format and then also in the ODI format, it was announced.

The teams are expected to be composed of four internationals, two Indians, and eight budding cricketers. Only the Premier Hockey League, which is broadcast by ESPN-Star Sports has such a format now.

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