'ICL can use Eden Gardens'

The Indian Cricket League on Thursday received support from an unexpected quarter with West Bengal sports minister Subhash Chakraborty saying the multi-million dollar breakaway league would be allowed to use the Eden Gardens and other grounds.

The minister said all the grounds belonging to the state government would be made available for the ICL and the players would get all the support.

"Whatever facilities we have, we will make available to the boys who have been punished, particularly by the CAB. I have no objection. All the fields will be available for them as all the fields are available for CAB. The owner of the fields is the state government not any other body," he told news channel NDTV.

"The Eden Gardens was looked after by CAB. Now the lease period is over and it is the state government's property. If Kapil [Dev] and others like to play in Eden Gardens, I would allow it. What is the harm in it?" he said.

The maverick minister's public support for the Subhash Chandra-owned Essel Group's cash-rich venture has come as a surprise as the current CAB president Prasun Mukherjee, who is also the city police commissioner, has the backing of the Sharad Pawar led BCCI regime.

The BCCI has decided not to recognise the league and has barred all the defecting players from playing for India or at the domestic level, besides withdrawing all financial benefits.

The ICL has managed to lure as many as 44 Indian first class cricketers and seven overseas players, including West Indies batting great Brian Lara and former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq, in the initial list for its proposed Twenty20 tournament expected to be held in September-October.