September 25, 2008	Thursday	Ramazan 24, 1429

LONDON, Sept 24: As popularity of the Twenty20 format of the game seems going through the roof, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering regulating the spree of Twenty20 tournaments to protect the attraction of international cricket.

“All these tournaments are springing up and what we are trying to do is regulate them in a more effective way. A private businessman might have different ambitions but we have to protect the game of cricket,” ICC Chief Executive Officer Haroon Lorgat was quoted as saying by The Guardian .

“Twenty20 is an opportunity that people have spotted they can take advantage of, but that doesn’t detract from what has been agreed by all members that we will not sacrifice nation-v-nation cricket. Everyone recognises its importance. People are not disregarding it,” he said.

Interestingly, Lorgat’s comment came days after six Bangladesh cricketers, including former captain Habibul Bashar, resigned from the national team in an apparent move to join the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL).

“If there wasn’t an interest in the sport there wouldn’t be so many challenges. I would rather come into a scenario where things are moving at great speed, with new forms of cricket and a new audience,” the South African added.

The lucrative Indian Premier League, brainchild of BCCI vice-president Lalit Modi, was a huge success in India and the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 tournament will also be held here in December.—Agencies