Gilchrist sees ICL platform to end ICC's monopoly

Johannesburg, Sept 11 (UNI) Indian Cricket League (ICL) could usher the end of International Cricket Council's monopoly over the game by providing more opportunities for players like him, swashbuckling Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist has said.

''I think the ICC does have a monopoly on the game and it's nice for the players to have more opportunities and to have more control of their futures,'' Gilchrist was quoted as saying in the local media.

''It's quite a good thing for guys like me who are at the fag end of their careers. It's a great opportunity,'' he said at the Captain's Breakfast at the Sandton Sun on the eve of the Twenty20 World Cup.

Gilchrist, who stood for captain Ricky Ponting at the function, however, refused to say whether he would sign up with the 'rebel' League.

West Indies legend Brian Lara, ICL's biggest catch so far, said he would support the League as it had clean and clear motives about improving the game of cricket.

''I think the most important thing is that their motives are very clean and clear -- they want to improve cricket and the standards of professional cricket in India, and that's good enough for me,'' Lara said at the ICC Awards function here yesterday.

UNI