Arif Malik, the chairman of the Kashmir Premier League (KPL), praised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday for its antics, which, rather than damaging the KPL, have aided it ahead of the league’s first match on August 6.
The KPL has already generated a lot of interest after it was revealed that the BCCI was aggressively scaring international players from participating in the league.
“Thanks to the BCCI,” Malik remarked on Dawn News’ Replay show. “This board is regarded as a mafia in the globe and a fear in the world. They are not only blocking the cricketers from entering, but also our production staff from arriving [to cover the event] “Added he.
Before the entire controversy with the BCCI began, Malik expressed worry about the league’s marketing, claiming that it had resulted in enormous social media popularity for the KPL.
The KPL’s executive director stated that he was receiving calls from cricket bodies all around the world inquiring about the KPL.
He said that the BCCI’s “hue and cry” had assured the KPL’s success even before it began. Malik stated that his team has put in a lot of time and effort into the league.
Despite being advised by the BCCI to avoid the KPL, Malik revealed that former South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs and Sri Lanka’s Dilshan had consented to play in the league, saying that the former “would be here soon,” without confirming the date owing to security concerns.
“Even our life should be freely available” for an event like the KPL, Malik added, adding that feelings should be prioritised above task management.
Aalia Rasheed, a sports writer, concurred with the KPL head, stating that the BCCI had unintentionally helped promote the cricket league and build talk about it throughout the world in its attempt to stop it.
“While preventing foreign players from playing in the Kashmir Premier League, the @BCCI has given the T20 league a much-needed boost! The @kpl 20 organisers must be grateful “she sent out a tweet
She responded to a social media user by asking why the BCCI went to such lengths to prevent Monty Panesar, Gibbs, and Dilshan from participating in the KPL if they were washed-up players.