UNI

Chennai, Feb 11: Former India cricket captain, coach and Manager Ajit Wadekar on Sunday suggested that the Indian Cricket League(ICL) and the BCCI's Indian Premier League(IPL) could 'coexist' in the interest of Indian cricket.

"The BCCI should recognise ICL. After all, it will broad base the talent pool for Indian team", the former Mumbai left-hander, who is among the mentors on the advisory panel of ICL said, even as he was watching in action, the ICL 50s final at the Mayajall sports complex here.

Wadekar said the ICL would afford the young players in the teams the opportunity to play along side great names in cricket like Brian Lara. "It's a great opportunity for them to mature", he averred.

After all their parents have sacrificed so much to allow them to be part of this competition, healthy competition is always good", Wadekar said.

Asked about team India's current performance on the Australiantour currently, Wadekar said "we have a balanced team now. The batting is clicking. You can't expect every batsman to click but the young talent is doing well and the bowling is also clicking", he added.

Asked if the senior players, in his opinion, should be omitted from the ODIs, Wadekar said "seniors should have been retained. For example, Saurav's current form is good. He has been contributing well. He has many centuries under his belt in the ODIs", Wadekar said, adding "after all, many of the Australian cricketers like Hayden are in their 30s."

Wadekar said the Aussie pace attack is not what it used to be. "It is not that penetrative now", he observed.

Asked about the new foreign coach, Gary Kirsten for Team India, Wadekar observed that he personally believed in having an Indian coach. "Kirsten has not been a coach even in South Africa. Nor has he been an international coach.

"Dave Whatmore would have been a better choice", he opined, adding Kirsten could have been made director of National Cricket Academy (NCA)".