Rebel league puts India's tour of Zimbabwe in doubt

Published June 23, 2015
India was meant to play three ODIs and two T20 games in Zimbabwe from July 10. — AFP
India was meant to play three ODIs and two T20 games in Zimbabwe from July 10. — AFP

HARARE: Zimbabwe cricket officials say they will meet with their Indian counterparts at the ICC's annual conference this week in Barbados in an attempt to save next month's limited-overs series.

India could pull out of the tour because of the role of broadcaster Ten Sports, which holds the television rights for Zimbabwe's home series.

Ten Sports is part of Indian conglomerate Essel Group, the company planning to set up a Twenty20 league to rival the BCCI’s hugely successful Indian Premier League.

The rival competition is the brainchild of billionaire media mogul Subhash Chandra, who owns Essel Group, which was behind the now-defunct Indian Cricket League (ICL).

International reports in recent months suggest Chandra is also trying to set up a breakaway world governing body for the sport outside the jurisdiction of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Wilson Manase says there are "issues" that need to be resolved and India's trip could be postponed to next year. India was meant to play three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 games in Zimbabwe from July 10, a significant money-spinner for the struggling Zimbabwe board.

According to cricket.com.au, Australia opener David Warner on Monday said he couldn’t rule out accepting a possible offer from a rebel league such as that proposed by the Essel Group, though Cricket Australia Chairman Wally Edwards last month said the deals being talked about – approximately $50m for 10 years – were comparable with what the country’s top players were presently earning.

“I don't like pointing things at people, but take for instance the NRL or NFL or NBA," Warner told Sky Sports Radio on Monday.

“If someone puts out a couple of extra thousand dollars in the pay well those people nine times out of 10 they do take that. It's about being honest. You can't rule it out.

“You can't say no, because at the end of the day we're all there, we love playing the sport we do but we also love getting paid for what we do.”

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...