The Indian Cricket League （ICL） was a private cricket league that operated in India from 2007 to 2009. It was founded by Zee Entertainment Enterprises as a rival to the official Board of Control for Cricket in India （BCCI） and its Indian Premier League （IPL）.
The ICL featured both domestic and international cricketers and was structured as a Twenty20 competition. It aimed to revolutionize cricket broadcasting and bring professional league cricket to Indian audiences through innovative formats and live football-style presentation.
Despite its ambitious vision and significant investment, the ICL faced strong opposition from the BCCI, which banned players associated with the league from participating in official cricket tournaments. This ultimately led to the league\“s discontinuation after just two seasons.
The ICL\“s legacy includes pioneering many concepts that were later adopted by other cricket leagues, including city-based franchises, cheerleaders, and strategic timeouts during matches. |
