May 15, 2007	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 27, 1428

MUMBAI, May 14: Former international captains Kapil Dev and Tony Greig were named on the executive board of India's new professional cricket league on Monday. The Indian Cricket League (ICL) board will also include former Australia batsman Dean Jones and ex-India wicket-keeper Kiran More.

The league, to be launched later this year, is being set up by a leading Indian broadcast and entertainment group.

“The game should be run by the people who have played it at the highest level and hence the choice of the members,” said Subhash Chandra, chairman of Essel Group which controls the country's biggest listed media firm Zee Telefilms, in a statement.

The league will comprise six teams in the inaugural edition which will be played in Twenty20 format.

Each team will have four foreign players, two current Indian players and eight young Indian players.

Former England skipper Greig said the league would not conflict with the Indian cricket board.

“This will be the platform where youngsters from all corners of India will play alongside the superstars of international cricket, learn the tricks of the trade from them and gain confidence to excel,” Greig said.

Meanwhile, Zee Sports has denied the report circulating in media that Brian Lara, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Inzamam-ul-Haq, were signed up for the series.

“We are in discussions with a few players,” Himanshu Modi, the Zee Sports Business Head, said at a press conference.

“I'm not able to confirm any names yet. The idea of today's meet was to introduce the board to you that will finally be discussing and short-listing the players and finalising with them.”—Agencies