IPL gave to Indian cricket nothing but disrepute: Ranatunga

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.

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.

"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.

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.
"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.

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.

"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.