Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist has supported the Indian Cricket League, saying it could help end the International Cricket Council's monopoly over the game by bringing in more opportunities for players.
"I think the International Cricket Council 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 South African media.
"It's quite a good thing for guys like me who are at the back end of their careers. I'm 10 years older than guys like Graeme (Smith), and about eight years older than Daniel (Vettori), so it's a great opportunity," he said at the Captain's Breakfast at the Sandton Sun on the eve of the Twenty20 World Cup.
The wicketkeeper-batsman, who substituted captain Ricky Ponting at the function, however, did not say whether he would sign up with the League.
West Indies cricket legend Brian Lara, who has already signed for the League, said the ICL had clean and clear motives about improving the game of cricket.
{{/usCountry}}West Indies cricket legend Brian Lara, who has already signed for the League, said the ICL had clean and clear motives about improving the game of cricket.
{{/usCountry}}"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.
"I think there's room for a lot of players in the market and I'll be there to support them," he said at the ICC Awards function in Johannesburg on Tuesday.