Former Sri Lanka captain, Arjuna Ranatunga, has criticised the Indian Premier League (IPL) for producing butchers, who will harm the game in the long run.
Ranatunga, who is currently in Dubai, to hand out the Shyam Bhatia annual cricket awards, said that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will be to blame for leading India towards a disaster, and for not caring about making better Test players.
Speaking exclusively to the Gulf News, Ranatunga, said: “They won the World Cup, but look at the way they are playing Test cricket. They are losing to most of the countries and don’t produce any more Gavaskars, Vengsarkars or Viswanaths, Tendulkars, Dravids and Laxmans. I am talking about classical cricketers.”
“They will now produce butchers because of the IPL. Most countries are now being controlled by the Indian Cricket Board because they are the kingpin and have all the money,” he added.
Ranatunga, also blames the International Cricket Council (ICC), for not speaking against India, since they have the most money out of all the cricketing boards in the world.
“In the International Cricket Council (ICC), when India says something, all the others keep their mouths shut because they are dependent on Indian money. The ICC board officials are there to get money for their country rather than to promote and protect the game properly,” he said.
Ranatunga, also noted that he feels as if more and more players are starting to abandon their national squads to play in the IPL since the pay is better.
“Malinga has retired from Test cricket because he wants to play in the IPL and our board did nothing. You cannot pick and choose. The IPL is entertainment for a public who does not understand the game. People who understand this lovely game will never get into the shorter version,” he said.