India's rebel league threatens legal action

Backers of an unsanctioned Twenty20 competition which rivals the Indian Premier League are threatening legal action against the International Cricket Council unless their tournament is granted official recognition.
Subhash Chandra, chairman of Essel Group that challenged the Indian cricket board's authority by launching the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) two years ago, said he expected the tournament to be officially sanctioned during a meeting of the ICC's executive board that begins Friday in Dubai.
"We're hopeful of receiving official recognition at the ICC executive board meeting, failing which we will pursue legal options," Chandra said in a statement Thursday.
The ICC considered a similar application by the ICL last year and asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which runs the IPL, to meet ICL officials in a bid to resolve conflicts between the rival leagues.
But discussions between BCCI and ICL officials quickly broke down, thwarting the privately promoted league's hopes of securing recognition. The meeting was the first time the non-sanctioned ICL held discussions with the Indian cricket board, which has imposed life bans on all Indian players participating in the rebel competition.
The BCCI's firm opposition to the ICL had also forced several other national cricket boards to impose bans on players who are contracted to the rebel league.
The second season of the IPL starts Saturday in South Africa and the five-week tournament will feature many of the world's leading players who're contracted to the eight franchises.
The IPL was moved to South Africa due to concerns over security in India because of a clash of dates with the general elections.