BCCI nipping talent in the bud

Business World has carried an article in its issue dated November 7, 2008 about the BCCI nipping potential ICL talent in the bud. The article also highlights that ICL is producing promising players.

The fencing out of ICL by BCCI has nipped the potential of many talented youngsters in the bud. While many tears have been shed for the fate of Ambatti Raydu, one of India’s most promising young batsmen who captained India in 2002-04 Under-19 Wold Cup, there are many others in ICL ranks who could bag a spot in the Indian team at some stage.

With Anil Kumble retiring, 19-year-old beanpole, leg spinner Shridhar Iyer of ICL team Mumbai Champs could probably vie to replace him as he too combines bounce and accuracy to prise batsmen out. Iyer has got 13 batsmen out in 11 ICL 20:20 games at a miserly 18 runs to a wicket and getting a batsmen out every 16 deliveries.

Among batsmen, Chennai Superstars’s 27-year old Ganpathi Vignesh has been a revelation as he has smashed 841 runs in 29 innings of 20:20 matches at a strike rate of 153.

Hyderabad Heroes wicket-keeper, 26-year-old Ibrahim Khaleel has stumped 19 and caught 18 batsmen in 33 games and has scored 267 runs in 17 innings at an strike rate of 104.

There are many others, including the 19-year old left-arm swing bowler, Ali Murtaza of Delhi Giants, 24-year old allrounder Stuart Binny of Hyderabad Heroes, and 19-year old medium-pacer Sujoy Tarafdar of Royal Bengal Tigers. It is hard to tell whether they will be missed in the Indian team in the time to come, but we will never know as they may not get an opportunity.