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Always open to work with BCCI: More

Principal Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Former India wicketkeeper and Director of Indian Cricket League, Kiran More, says that their doors are always open for working together with the Board of Control for Cricket in India and that the ICL is not here to fight with anyone.

Briefing the media ahead of the first-ever ICL match in the city between Hyderabad Heroes and Chennai Superstars at the floodlit Lal Bahadur Stadium on March 15, More said that it was sad that bans were slapped on all those playing in the ICL.

“And, what is worse, they are people who never played any cricket. This is very unfortunate,” he said.

“We are not concerned about what the BCCI is doing with the Indian Premier League.

“We are here to keep organising events and to give a chance to those talented youngsters who never got a chance to play at the highest level for different reasons,” More said.

Also present were Chennai Superstars team members including coach-cum-player Michael Bevan, Adam Parore and Hemang Badani.

“The fact that we hosted three ICL tournaments in the space of five months shows our commitment for the cause of the players,” added More.

Exciting cricket

Former Aussie one-day specialist Bevan said it was a privilege to be associated with ICL. “It is exciting cricket and big fun for the fans out there in the stands. But we players are passionate and very serious about our performances on the field and determined to win.

Serious business

“It is not as if these are exhibition games for us. There is a lot more seriousness than one can perceive, for the reason that the teams comprise players from different regions from across the world,” he explained. “I believe that ICL provides a chance for the talented youngsters to perform at this level,” he said.

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