Chandigarh, March 8
“With so many star players of Pakistan with us, Lahore Badshahs is probably more powerful than the Pakistan team,” observed Kiran More, executive board member of the Indian Cricket League here today ahead of the start of the the third edition of the Indian cricket League at Tau Devi Lal stadium in Panchkula tomorrow.

Given the fact that the stars like Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan, Mohammad Sami, Arshad Khan, Mushtaq Ahmed, Saqlain Mushtaq and Riaz Afridi have joined the ICL and clubbed in Lahore Badshahs with Inzamam-ul-Haq, Azhar Mahmood, Imran Nazir, Imran Farhat and Taufeeq Umar already in the team, More’s assertion could not be dismissed as an empty boast.

Besides, a big number of stars from other countries like fiery Australian speedster Jason Gillespie along with the country-mates like Damien Martyn and Mathew Elliot, Lou Vincent of New Zealand, Murray Goodwin and Heath Streak (both Zimbabwe) and attacking West Indian all rounder Wavell Hinds also joining the ICL bandwagon, the “breakaway” league has got a big boost in less than six months since its inception.

“It is fulfulling experience to see the ICL make rapid strides in terms of growing bigger and bigger in only in its first year of operations. Multiple venues, additional teams, an improved player base and to top it all a very impressive prize money to be won, should make the tournament an enthralling experience for both the players and cricket fans,” an elated Tony Grieg, executive board member, ICL, said.

Edelweiss 20s Challenge, the third edition of the ICL gets under way with the inaugural match between Chandigarh Lions and Ahmedabad Rockets tomorrow.

More said with the addition of two strong teams — Ahmedabad Rockets and Lahore Badshahs — the competition this time would be more intense. And with the weather improving, games would be high scoring.

Ahmedabad Rockets is a formidable team as, apart from former Martyn as skipper, they have Murray Goodwin, Heath Streak and Jason Gillespie and all rounder Wavell Hinds in their ranks.

Former England wily spinner John Emburey at the helm as the coach, the team is a good mix of reputed international players as well some talented Indian youngsters. Reetinder Sodhi, who played for Chandigarh Lions in the inaugural edition at Panchkula in November last, has now opted to play for Ahmedabad.

The team has an impressive bowling line-up in former Australian new ball bowler Jason Gillespie, who quit international cricket nearly a week ago, Heath Streak, known for his pinpoint accuracy and Rakesh Patel. The 31-year-old Hinds is an aggressive left-handed batsman with a Test double century to his credit and a useful medium pace bowler.

Already a strong team, Lions will further be bolstered by the inclusion of Mathew Elliot and Lou Vincent. With the likes of hard-hitting skipper Chris Cairns, Elliot and Vincent to be backed by Dinesh Mongia and Manish Sharma, Lions have a strong batting line-up. As he proved in the earlier matches, Andrew Hall, like Cairns, can be dangerous with the bat and handy with the ball.

More said in keeping with the trend of bestowing handsome financial benefits to the players, a sum of Rs 12.33 crore has been earmarked. The winners stand to gain Rs 2.5 crore, while the runners-up will be richer by Rs 1.25 crore. The third placed team will pocket Rs 50 lakh, while win in every league match will give the team Rs 25 lakh.

A whopping sum of Rs 7 crore is at stake for the teams winning league matches only. A Man of the Match will get Rs 2 lakh, while Man of the Series will get whopping Rs 40 lakh.

Lions’ skipper Cairns said that having played in the previous two editions, the players had taken big strides. “Now with two more teams in the fray, hopefully the competition will be good and we will go well.”

Martyn said players were all excited to play. “The teams have guys from the other countries. We had Wavell Hinds. Hopefully they would come together and do well.”

When asked whether being new to the competition will be a disadvantage for the team, Martyn retorted in jest: “In that case we should be given a couple of points to start with”!