Kumar Sangakkara asks ICC to adjust IPL in its schedule
Deccan Chargers’ captain Kumar Sangakkara has come out in support of a separate window for the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the International calendar.
Hectic schedule of International cricket and the IPL is a hot debate in the cricketing world as some of the high profile cricketers have started prefering IPL over national duty.
Sangakkara is one of the Sri Lankan cricketers playing for their respective franchises in the league while their national team is currently touring http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c749.
However, he along with Mahela Jayawardene will join team before the first Test starts at Cardiff from May 26, 2011.
The former Sri Lankan captain said that the International Cricket Council (ICC) should soon include IPL in its schedule because it has become a very important tournament for the players.
He added that the competition in IPL is of good quality and a separate IPL window would be a good step by the cricket authorities.
Sangakkara said, “I think the ICC will look seriously for an IPL window. It’s an important tournament and it has become part of the cricketing calendar. It can hold its own with any other tournament. I think an IPL window would be good.”
The left hander went on to say that the preference of every cricketer is to play for his country because of all the pride and emotions involved.
He also conceded that International cricket is the highest form of the game. However, he added that if ICC can add IPL in its schedule, the players would then not have to choose between their country and the franchise.
Sangakkara feels that the current schedule is creating a lot of problems for the cricketers as well as cricket boards.
“Cricketers take a huge amount of pride in playing for their country and that’s going to be their main aim. At the same time, if they don’t have to do that choosing of sides, I think it will make it easier for everyone (players, Boards) not to rub anyone
on the wrong side at times,” said Sangakkara.
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