Ponting blames ICC for IPL revolution

The Aussie skipper blames ICC for trying to put lid on T20 format and reckons the luring T20 revolution in India threatens to spoil the composition of national sides.

Concerned over long-term effects of Indian Premier League's money power, Australian captain Ricky Ponting has blamed the International Cricket Council for not acting in time to develop the Twenty20 format to its potential and trying to put lid on it.

Ponting said the luring private Twenty20 revolution in India was threatening to spoil the composition of national sides.

"The amount of money being bandied around here and the amount of money and power the Indian board, the BCCI, has, who knows how cricket administration worldwide is going to pan out," Ponting said.

"Twenty20 cricket has been big at domestic level for most of this decade in England, then South Africa and now Australia.

"It was obvious by the crowds at that level that it was going to be big. If the ICC had jumped on it then and developed Twenty20 cricket to its potential instead of trying to keep a lid on it then there might not have been any need for an IPL to counter the rebel Indian Cricket League," he wrote in his column for The Australian.

The Aussies skipper warned various cricket boards to be careful about the implications of the private leagues -- IPL and ICL.

"If the ICC is saying it can't find a window for the IPL, then those running the game will have to be careful how they handle this Twenty20 phenomenon," Ponting said.