ICC agrees on policy on IPL

Dubai, Mar 19 (UNI) The International Cricket Council (ICC) has finally agreed to a policy on Indian Premier League (IPL) and said although the introduction of privately owned franchises introduced risks to the game in general it was a good concept which would be benificial.

The ICC board, which met here yesterday, however, said the BCCI as the owner of IPL will have to sign a standard-form contract with all the ICC Members reflecting conditions, including an unfettered right in its absolute discretion to lodge an objection to a player from its country playing in the IPL.

The Board, however, stressed that the concept of nation versus nation cricket will always be given the highest priority and in order to maintain that position, the BCCI would sign a standard-form contract with all of the ICC Members.

The other guidelines in the contract will be that the objection by the ICC members can be lodged up to two years after that player's retirement, all such objections will be respected by the IPL and its various franchises and the player in question will not be selected to play.

Bilateral commitments of members will take precedence over IPL fixtures and the IPL will introduce a code of conduct, an anti-corruption code and an anti-doping code that comply with the ICC regulations.

However, no request was made by the IPL or the BCCI to adjust the ICC future tours programme to accommodate IPL matches.

''The ICC will monitor IPL's progress over the next few years and work with the BCCI to ensure that it works in harmony with international cricket,'' an ICC statement here said.

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