By IANS
Dubai : Following is the full text of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) statement officially recognizing the Indian Premier League (IPL) after its executive board’s meeting here Tuesday:
“The ICC Board has agreed upon an official policy regarding the IPL. In general terms, it was agreed that the IPL was a good concept and although the introduction of privately owned franchises introduced risks to the game, it also provided possible benefits.
“The Board stressed that the concept of nation-versus-nation cricket was the lifeblood of members and this must always be given the highest possible priority.
“In order to maintain that position, the ICC Board and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) agreed that the BCCI, as the owner of the IPL, would sign a standard-form contract with all of the ICC Members reflecting the following principles:
* Each ICC Member will have an unfettered right in its absolute discretion to lodge an objection to a player from its country playing in the IPL
* This objection can be lodged up to two years after that player’s retirement
* All such objections will be respected by the IPL and its various franchises and the player in question will not be selected to play.
* Bilateral commitments of Members will take precedence over IPL fixtures
* IPL will introduce a code of conduct, an anti-corruption code and an anti-doping code that comply with ICC regulations
“No request has been made by the IPL or BCCI to adjust the ICC Future Tours Programme to accommodate IPL matches. The ICC will monitor IPL’s progress over the next few years and work with the BCCI to ensure that it works in harmony with international cricket.”