Day after cricket board fined, private school tourney launched

NEWDELHI: The Indian School Players League (ISPL), a rechristened version of Indian Junior Players League, was launched on Thursday. The development comes a day after the Competition Commission of India (CCI) asked the BCCI not to implement any ‘blanket restrictions’ on the organisation of professional domestic leagues or events by non-members. It has also fined the BCCI ~52.24 crore for anti-competitive practices regarding the Indian Premier League (IPL).

ISPL’S CLAIMS

The organisers of the ISPL, to be played in November 2018 in Dubai, say that BCCI’s instructions were for players registered with the body. In a statement in October, BCCI had said: “It has come to our attention that certain T20 cricket matches, series, tournaments and/or camps are being conducted by leagues under the names of Indian Junior Players League (IJPL) and Junior India Player League/Junior Indian League (JIPL).

“Please note that any player registered with the BCCI knowingly participating, representing or associating himself/herself with IJPL and JIPL in any manner is doing so without the consent of BCCI would be doing so in violation of the BCCI Rules and Regulations.”

Though all top level age-group players are registered with their respective state associations, the ISPL organisers feel that this tournament will give a chance to those who could not make it to BCCI-sanctioned events. “BCCI never said anything on hosting private cricket tournaments,” Sampat Rai, one of the directors of ISPL, told Hindustan Times.

In its inaugural version the ISPL was called Indian Junior Players League. The organisers insisted that the change of name was done as School Games Federation of India (SGFI) came on board and not because BCCI released a statement on the IJPL.