The court passed interim order on a suit filed by Essel Sports Pvt Ltd, the promoter of ICL, seeking a direction for BCCI not to intimidate players who join ICL. The BCCI had submitted that it had the right to take punitive action against the players registered with it but were joining ICL. In the order, the court said, “Interest of players' must be protected in the fight between two ‘giants’ – BCCI and ICL”. This order came as a big relief for players like JP Yadav and Dheeraj Jadhav who hold jobs with PSUs but have joined the breakaway league.

Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul while passing the order, said, "The Public Sector Corporation governed by various ministries will not terminate services or take any punitive action by the reason of its employees (registered with BCCI) seeking to affiliate themselves to Indian Cricket League. In this fight between two giants, I don't want players to suffer. Why should players have swords hanging over their heads?" He commented when it was brought to his attention that Indian Oil Corporation and Air India has threatened employees to terminate their services if they join ICL.

Players are employed by the PSUs through sports quota. It is mandatory for such players to play for their office teams in BCCI recognized tournaments. But BCCI's decision to not recognize the ICL and ban the players taking part in it had put these companies in a fix. Since these players are no longer eligible to play in such tournaments, leading PSUs were prompted to terminate their services.

On the issue of providing venue for ICl matches, on behalf of ICL, senior advocate Harish Salve accused BCCI of misusing its monopoly power. While pointing out two cases in which the Board refused to provide venue for ICL matches, Salve said, "BCCI is taking steps to ensure that cricket stadia are not available for ICL matches, Chinnaswamy stadium is used for political purposes, marriage ceremony, beauty pageants (Miss World Contest of 1996) but we are not allowed to use the ground.”

The Court also refused to pass any direction on the plea of BCCI counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi. He contended that it should be allowed to take proper action against the players who join ICL in violation of their contract with BCCI.  The Court said, "You take individual action whatever you want. But at the moment we are concerned whether corporations can take action against players at the behest of private body (BCCI,” and added that BCCI should wait as the matter will be decided on priority basis.

IndianCricketLeague Staff
Sept. 3rd, 2007

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3.21 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."