ICL- IPL to change cricket: Streak

FORMER Zimbabwe senior national cricket team captain Heath Streak believes that the Indian Cricket League and the Indian Premier League will change the face of the game the same way as the past Kerry Packer series.

Streak, who recently returned from India after playing in the ICL, said the two competing Indian leagues would have an impact on international cricket the same way that the Packer series did in the 1970s.
“I think the IPL and ICL will change world cricket the same way as the Kerry Packer series did. Money is a big draw card and many players will soon start choosing to play in the two leagues over international cricket,” said Streak.
Packer, an Australian, caused headaches for the cricket administrators in 1977 when he founded the World Series Cricket and this led to a confrontation between him and the cricket administrators as a number of top players rushed to join his initiative at the expense of their international sides.
The World Series introduced many of the features of One-Day International cricket that includes coloured clothing, white ball and day night matches.
Streak turned out for the Ahmedabad Rockets who finished last in the eight Edelweiss 20s second edition of the ICL. The 34-year-old Streak has a three year deal with the unofficial league and is the only Zimbabwean to play in the league that features other former international stars like former West Indies captain Brian Lara, former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond, former Australian batsmen Michael Bevan and Damien Martyn.
Playing in the unsanctioned ICL meant that Streak has effectively called time on his international career. He said that he played in the ICL since no one in ZC contacted him about his availability for national duty.
Former Zimbabwe captain, wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu has signed up to play for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the official IPL, a 44-day league that starts on Friday.
The ICL was launched first but was not sanctioned by the International Cricket Council before the Board of Cricket Control in India set up the IPL, which has been embraced by the ICC and its associates.
Both leagues follow a franchise system.