<p>Most cricketers have been wary of discussing thorny issues in public, and those that have done so have proceeded with extreme caution, determined not to be seen as taking sides.<br /><br />There has been a fair smattering of support for Lalit Modi, the beleaguered chairman of the IPL who is under concerted fire, with the likes of Shane Warne and Kevin Pietersen, among others, reflecting on the vision of the man in putting together a competition of such vibrancy and intensity.<br /><br />Adam Gilchrist too has been forthright in his views, though it was understandable that he embraced extreme diplomacy when asked if the recent developments off the field were damaging the reputation of the IPL, and cricket in general.<br /><br />“Until we know what’s actually happened, what’s proven, what’s admitted, it’s very difficult to comment,” said the Deccan Chargers captain after his team was beaten to a Champions League berth by the Royal Challengers on Saturday. “With all the speculations there, it is not a good look. Until we see what really comes out in the wash, once the enquiries and meetings and discussions take place, it’s very difficult to comment. It’s not a good look at the moment and everyone feels the same that cleaning it up or tidying up the perception as soon as possible is going to be to everyone’s benefit.”<br /><br />The question had arisen following a reply to potential team compositions for next year. “We all need to find out from the IPL what’s going to happen with players’ retention and auction and so on. I suspect that’s the last thing on the administrators’ minds at the moment,” he had said, even then perhaps aware that he was leaving himself open to the inevitable.<br /><br />Despite his ordinary form of IPL III, Gilchrist reiterated his desire to continue to remain an active IPL player with the Chargers, obliquely blaming unfamiliar injuries for his poor run of scores. “I would most definitely like to carry on, obviously the franchise needs to work that out. Personally, I would like to be a part of it. I can go away and think about the differences between what I did pre-tournament last year (when he had great success) and pre-tournament this year.<br /><br />“I had some niggling, well, some nasty injuries throughout this tournament that I have never had in my career. I had to try and manage that, that was new to me. But I am not the only one that didn’t have a great one with the bat. I can reel off a few other champion world-class cricketers that did not feature prominently with the bat. I love it, it’s been wonderful, a real pleasure and thrill to work with such talented youngsters, and hopefully have an impact on their life and their careers as they go forward. In short, yes, I would love to be involved with the IPL, and with the Deccan Chargers.”<br /></p>
<p>Most cricketers have been wary of discussing thorny issues in public, and those that have done so have proceeded with extreme caution, determined not to be seen as taking sides.<br /><br />There has been a fair smattering of support for Lalit Modi, the beleaguered chairman of the IPL who is under concerted fire, with the likes of Shane Warne and Kevin Pietersen, among others, reflecting on the vision of the man in putting together a competition of such vibrancy and intensity.<br /><br />Adam Gilchrist too has been forthright in his views, though it was understandable that he embraced extreme diplomacy when asked if the recent developments off the field were damaging the reputation of the IPL, and cricket in general.<br /><br />“Until we know what’s actually happened, what’s proven, what’s admitted, it’s very difficult to comment,” said the Deccan Chargers captain after his team was beaten to a Champions League berth by the Royal Challengers on Saturday. “With all the speculations there, it is not a good look. Until we see what really comes out in the wash, once the enquiries and meetings and discussions take place, it’s very difficult to comment. It’s not a good look at the moment and everyone feels the same that cleaning it up or tidying up the perception as soon as possible is going to be to everyone’s benefit.”<br /><br />The question had arisen following a reply to potential team compositions for next year. “We all need to find out from the IPL what’s going to happen with players’ retention and auction and so on. I suspect that’s the last thing on the administrators’ minds at the moment,” he had said, even then perhaps aware that he was leaving himself open to the inevitable.<br /><br />Despite his ordinary form of IPL III, Gilchrist reiterated his desire to continue to remain an active IPL player with the Chargers, obliquely blaming unfamiliar injuries for his poor run of scores. “I would most definitely like to carry on, obviously the franchise needs to work that out. Personally, I would like to be a part of it. I can go away and think about the differences between what I did pre-tournament last year (when he had great success) and pre-tournament this year.<br /><br />“I had some niggling, well, some nasty injuries throughout this tournament that I have never had in my career. I had to try and manage that, that was new to me. But I am not the only one that didn’t have a great one with the bat. I can reel off a few other champion world-class cricketers that did not feature prominently with the bat. I love it, it’s been wonderful, a real pleasure and thrill to work with such talented youngsters, and hopefully have an impact on their life and their careers as they go forward. In short, yes, I would love to be involved with the IPL, and with the Deccan Chargers.”<br /></p>
