IPL's foreign affair leaves Indian players in cold
Friday, 24 April 2009
NEW DELHI, Apr 23(AFP): The Indian Premier League may have brought money and fame for many, but the glitzy Twenty20 tournament is proving a bitter pill for many home-grown players.
Organisers insist the IPL is a domestic Indian tournament with teams allowed to field only four foreign players per match, but local cricketers are already feeling the pinch in the event's second season.
All eight teams are coached by foreigners and only four sides are captained by Indian players.
The fascination with international stars does not end there. Among those cricketers bought at IPL auctions, seven of the top 10 earners were foreigners.
"This whole talk of IPL being a domestic Indian tournament is a joke," former India captain Ajit Wadekar told AFP.
"It is Indian money, our country's money on which foreigners are thriving. But they do not think twice before sacking an Indian."
India star Mohammad Kaif, 28, was shown the door by Rajasthan Royals two days before the IPL's second season started in South Africa because skipper Shane Warne said "he did not fit into the scheme of things".
The removal of Kaif, who has played 13 Tests and 125 one-day internationals, left many fuming.
"It has exposed the complete ruthlessness of the owners," said Sharda Ugra, sports editor of the respected India Today magazine.
Organisers insist the IPL is a domestic Indian tournament with teams allowed to field only four foreign players per match, but local cricketers are already feeling the pinch in the event's second season.
All eight teams are coached by foreigners and only four sides are captained by Indian players.
The fascination with international stars does not end there. Among those cricketers bought at IPL auctions, seven of the top 10 earners were foreigners.
"This whole talk of IPL being a domestic Indian tournament is a joke," former India captain Ajit Wadekar told AFP.
"It is Indian money, our country's money on which foreigners are thriving. But they do not think twice before sacking an Indian."
India star Mohammad Kaif, 28, was shown the door by Rajasthan Royals two days before the IPL's second season started in South Africa because skipper Shane Warne said "he did not fit into the scheme of things".
The removal of Kaif, who has played 13 Tests and 125 one-day internationals, left many fuming.
"It has exposed the complete ruthlessness of the owners," said Sharda Ugra, sports editor of the respected India Today magazine.