<p>Ridiculing the Indian Premier League for turning cricketers into a bunch of avaricious people, World Cup winning Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga today said that the cash-awash T20 league has given Indian cricket nothing but disrepute.<br /><br /></p>.<p>IPL is embroiled in a spot-fixing scandal, leading to arrest of India's Test pacer S Sreesanth and several others including BCCI President's son-in-law on charges of betting.<br /><br />"I am not surprised with the current spot-fixing and betting scandal in IPL. It has been happening from the beginning. Each and every season had issues like betting, fixing, alcohol, drugs. I think IPL never gave anything to Indian cricket. Indian cricket has never got such bad name in world cricket," Ranatunga told PTI-Bhasha over phone from Colombo.<br /><br />Ranatunga said it pained him to see that some of the former greats are backing the event just because they too are getting monetary benefits out of it.<br />"I feel hurt that past greats are trying to cover up as they are earning money through it. There are only a few like Erapalli Prasanna who have criticised it," he said without naming the greats.<br /><br />He also said not only Indian but world cricket is getting affected by it. "It is making cricketers greedy. Everyone wants to play IPL now and the focus has been shifted. I don't understand that what is the need of such a league. What has Indian cricket gained from it. It is spoiling players. I don't remember any world class player produced from IPL," he said.<br /><br />"India will not get Tendulkars, Dravids or Gavaskars from IPL. BCCI's domestic structure is good enough to produce good cricketers, so what is the need of this league," he said.</p>
<p>Ridiculing the Indian Premier League for turning cricketers into a bunch of avaricious people, World Cup winning Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga today said that the cash-awash T20 league has given Indian cricket nothing but disrepute.<br /><br /></p>.<p>IPL is embroiled in a spot-fixing scandal, leading to arrest of India's Test pacer S Sreesanth and several others including BCCI President's son-in-law on charges of betting.<br /><br />"I am not surprised with the current spot-fixing and betting scandal in IPL. It has been happening from the beginning. Each and every season had issues like betting, fixing, alcohol, drugs. I think IPL never gave anything to Indian cricket. Indian cricket has never got such bad name in world cricket," Ranatunga told PTI-Bhasha over phone from Colombo.<br /><br />Ranatunga said it pained him to see that some of the former greats are backing the event just because they too are getting monetary benefits out of it.<br />"I feel hurt that past greats are trying to cover up as they are earning money through it. There are only a few like Erapalli Prasanna who have criticised it," he said without naming the greats.<br /><br />He also said not only Indian but world cricket is getting affected by it. "It is making cricketers greedy. Everyone wants to play IPL now and the focus has been shifted. I don't understand that what is the need of such a league. What has Indian cricket gained from it. It is spoiling players. I don't remember any world class player produced from IPL," he said.<br /><br />"India will not get Tendulkars, Dravids or Gavaskars from IPL. BCCI's domestic structure is good enough to produce good cricketers, so what is the need of this league," he said.</p>