The proposed India Cricket League has roped in former Test batsman and national coach Sandeep Patil to its fold but the appointment may cost the ex-player the monthly pension he's entitled to receive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
"Yes, Sandeep Patil has joined the ICL and will be coaching one of the six teams," the League's Creative Head Ajay Kapoor said.
The 50-year-old, who played in 29 Tests and 45 One-Day Internationals for India in the 1980s, took the plunge to join the rebel league on Thursday, according to sources close to him.
The Mumbai stalwart, who represented Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy and then guided Kenya to the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup as coach, may have kissed goodbye to the monthly pension he's receiving from the BCCI along with two other former India and ICL colleagues, Kapil Dev and Kiran More.
"The Board has decided to stop all the entitlements to any current or former player, official or umpire who is connected to the ICL. A letter to this effect will soon reach all those who are receiving such remunerations from the Board," BCCI sources revealed.
Former players and umpires are receiving Rs 25,000 to Rs 35,000 from the board every month as pension depending on the number of matches they have played for India or represented their state association in domestic cricket.
Kapil, the current chairman of the National Cricket Academy, is heading the ICL's Executive Board while former stumper and selection panel chief More is on the same Board despite holding the post of Baroda Cricket Association secretary.
The BCCI Working Committee had severely criticised both these former cricketers for associating themselves with the rebel body at its meeting in Delhi earlier this month but stopped short of giving show-cause notices to them.
"Though we did not decide to show cause them, Kapil would soon be conveyed the message, while the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) will take up the matter with More," a member had said after the meeting on June 12.
Essel chief Subhas Chandra launched the ICL in April, promising a million dollars in prize-money. Names like Brian Lara, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, all recently retired from international cricket, are being linked to the league.
The ICL plans to commence the league with six teams playing in the Twenty20 format later this year.