English version of the Indian Premier League to move step closer

Apr 15 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

A MULTI-million pound English version of the Indian Premier League will move a step closer today when Texan billionaire Allen Stanford holds talks with the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Players’ eyes have been caught by the billions of rupees on offer on the sub-continent but a sibling version – an English Premier League – appears to be a viable option.

That idea appears to be favoured by IPL commissioner Lalit Modi while Stanford is meeting with the Lord’s hierarchy at his own request.

England is in a strong position to host such an event in June and July each year as it is the only Test-playing nation in season at that time in the calendar.

But it would need to be attractive to a global audience and advertising market to generate the kind of revenue of the IPL.

That is where Modi and primarily Stanford, who has bankrolled Twenty20 cricket in the Caribbean, come in.

“Looking at all options is pure commercial common sense,” said PCA chief executive Sean Morris.