Lalit Modi

Yeah, it's a good point. This opportunity for a domestic cricket league was not some, like, aha brainstorm that Lalit had once he took over BCCI. Everybody knew that this would be a huge opportunity. Right.

Yeah, it's a good point. This opportunity for a domestic cricket league was not some, like, aha brainstorm that Lalit had once he took over BCCI. Everybody knew that this would be a huge opportunity. Right.

The time just wasn't right yet. So he had been thinking about it all the way back when he was first working with Disney to fight against Star and enter the market. But the timing just wasn't right.

The time just wasn't right yet. So he had been thinking about it all the way back when he was first working with Disney to fight against Star and enter the market. But the timing just wasn't right.

Oh, interesting. So this must have been right before Lalit joined the board and then restructured the whole thing.

Oh, interesting. So this must have been right before Lalit joined the board and then restructured the whole thing.

Interesting.

Interesting.

Because at this point in time, Lollet is starting to work on setting up IPL.

Because at this point in time, Lollet is starting to work on setting up IPL.

Ah, so this is spring 2007 when they announce ICL.

Ah, so this is spring 2007 when they announce ICL.

Yeah, so they do play actually two seasons, 2007, 2008, into 2009, and then they fold.

Yeah, so they do play actually two seasons, 2007, 2008, into 2009, and then they fold.

Well, I mean, this brings up probably the most important power and playbook theme that I was going to save to talk about later, but we should talk about now. The cornered resource of the players. If you are creating or running a sports league, it is of paramount importance that you have the best players in the world. If you do not have the best players in the world, you're toast.

Well, I mean, this brings up probably the most important power and playbook theme that I was going to save to talk about later, but we should talk about now. The cornered resource of the players. If you are creating or running a sports league, it is of paramount importance that you have the best players in the world. If you do not have the best players in the world, you're toast.

Nobody wants to watch the second best players in the world play each other.

Nobody wants to watch the second best players in the world play each other.

Yes, that is absolutely true. The players are the primary thing, though. The broadcasters will follow the players. Star is desperate to rebroadcast cricket at this point in time. They would have loved for the ICL to take off and be able to broadcast that and go around the BCCI, but it just wasn't a compelling product.

Yes, that is absolutely true. The players are the primary thing, though. The broadcasters will follow the players. Star is desperate to rebroadcast cricket at this point in time. They would have loved for the ICL to take off and be able to broadcast that and go around the BCCI, but it just wasn't a compelling product.