Cricket rebels challenge the IPL

INDIA'S cricket rebels are set to take on the IPL at the game's highest level.

INDIA'S cricket rebels are set to take on the IPL at the game's highest level.

The challenge will come tomorrow, just as the Indian Premier League launches its tournament in Cape Town.

The Indian Cricket League, which pioneered the idea of a Twenty20 club competition in that country, but is now considered a rebel tournament, will plead for official recognition at a meeting in Dubai.

The International Cricket Council's executive board, which is meeting in the Gulf state, will grant the ICL an audience but is unlikely to bestow any official blessing.

The ICC is effectively controlled by the Board of Control for Cricket in India through its alliances with South Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, who usually vote with the BCCI.

The BCCI established the IPL to counter the ICL's initial success with television and has opposed any official recognition of the "rebel" group.

The ICL, which is planning to run its second tournament later this year, said it would resort to a British court if it failed to get official approval from the ICC.

Subhash Chandra, chairman of the Essel Group, which owns the ICL, believes his league should have the same official status as the IPL.

According to Essel Sports sources, quoted on the Indian sports business website sportz-power, the ICC is obliged, according to its constitution, to grant official status to the ICL.

Essel has given the ICC until June 1 to do so. "We have made our pitch and it is up to ICC to make a call. Status quo will mean that we will exercise the legal option," a source said. - Sports staff