Kapil sacked from cricket academy

The Indian cricket board on Tuesday sacked National Cricket Academy (NCA) chairman Kapil Dev for his involvement with the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), signifying the deepening of the divide in the game in the country.

Kapil has also been removed from the Cricket Advisory Committee, which was formed after India’s World Cup debacle.

The special general body meeting of the BCCI unanimously passed all the resolutions presented before it, which included a ban on all the Ranji Trophy players who have signed up with the ICL.

Despite this, the move towards the rebel league did not abate. On Tuesday, the number of Indians who have signed up with the ICL crossed 50, all of whom would automatically attract the BCCI ban.

“It is the players who have decided to join the unapproved tournaments,” said BCCI treasurer N. Srinivasan. “Once the player has made his choice, he is there.” Srinivasan added that the BCCI is not worried. “The bench strength of all the associations is quite strong and it gives an opportunity to young players,” he said. “We don’t want to make too much of this.”

That may be so, but the fact remains that the face of this year’s domestic season has been altered beyond recognition. At least four teams – Hyderabad, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal and Punjab – have been practically decimated and there are indications that the exodus will continue.