ICL is not competing against anyone: Kapil Dev

Mumbai, November 6: Former Indian world cup winning captain and head of the Indian Cricket League (ICL) Kapil Dev on Tuesday said that his organisation was not competing against any body in particular, instead it was trying to ensure that cricket should go everywhere in the country.

“When you are working, you just have to work your way up and want to wish others good luck. I want to say that the BCCI has authenticated by doing what we were trying to do by announcing Indian Premiere League. They announced the same thing, we are very happy. Our aim is that Cricket should go to every part of the country,” Chairman-Executive board of ICL Kapil Dev said.

When asked whether the BCCI managed to steal the thunder from ICL by signing up big names like two-time World Cup winning Australian captain Ricky Ponting and the cream of Australian players along with swashbuckling Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi, he said that ICL was not looking for thunder.

“We are not competing against any one. We just want to give opportunities to thousands of cricketers in the country who want to play this game and make it a career. It is high time that we recognise the skills and give them the opportunity. If we don’t give them opportunities, how will find the next Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid or even a Dhoni,” he said.

Dev was speaking on the sidelines of ICL announcing teams, logos and team gear. Regarding BCCI refusing to open up its international venues, he said that was not a worry for ICL.