Why discriminate against ICL, asks Miandad

"Both leagues are basically being launched for the same purpose - to make money. The IPL to me seems to be a reaction to the ICL. But it seems unfair that when both leagues say that players' top priority would remain their national commitments, the ICL is not recognised," Miandad said on Thursday.

"Why are players signing for the ICL being ostracised while those who play for IPL enjoy the best of both worlds!"

Miandad feared the players sold at the IPL auction for astronomical amounts might not end up earning as much as they expected.

Miandad, unsure of the players' earnings in IPL, however, said BCCI would definitely gain a lot from the venture.

"At the moment, a lot of figures and big money is being quoted but the league is yet to start. So no one really knows, not even the cricket boards or players, what is eventually going to happen. It is a strange territory for everyone.

"From what I have read, the players will only get 15 per cent of the total amount they were bid for by the teams from the IPL. I do not really know what their signing amounts are," the legendary batsman said.

"But, the BCCI and its entity, the IPL, stand to gain a lot because they have obtained all marketing and sponsorship rights of the players. And the IPL franchise companies will obviously want to use the players they have purchased for promotional purposes. This could eventually lead to complaints from players and conflicts with their cricket boards over sponsorship issues," Miandad said.

The former Pakistan coach recalled past differences between BCCI and ICC over sponsorship issues and said similar issues can also crop up in IPL.

"If I recall then the Indians had protested over the ICC's automatic right on players over sponsorship and endorsement issues during these tournaments because there was a conflict between the sponsorship deals of the Indian Board and players with those of the ICC.