Once South Africa returned to the cricket fold with their participation in the 1992 World Cup, Bacher was the man who steered their course for around a decade. Now, with all the cricketing-playing nations' eyes on the Indian Premier League (IPL), the former SA skipper spoke on various topics while he was here in the city last week on business.

On the IPL:What has staggered me is the amount of money generated by the BCCI; I mean, it's mind-boggling. When I first started reading the figures, I was wondering whether I was reading them right. It also shows that not only the new product has an enormous appeal, it also indicates where

India stands in world cricket. India is now the power centre. Genuinely speaking, the top cricketers were probably underpaid in the past. If the franchisees have invested so much, then they must be having some business reasons. No one throws away money and they know what they are doing. The IPL and T20 are new and this is bigger than the Kerry Packer revolution.

On Sachin Tendulkar contribution:One thinks down the years and what Sachin (Tendulkar) has brought to the game of cricket in India and worldwide. He has brought billions of cricket lovers, hundreds of thousands to the grounds, brought pleasure, joy and excitement. Why should he not be handsomely rewarded? He is a special cricketer. His behaviour on and off the field is impeccable. When I met him for the first time in 1990-91, he remained so respectful, and he is the same today. I cannot recall him ever get into controversies. He is the role model for the youth of India and world wide. The cricketers are the products and they are the key.

On ICC promoting cricket to other regions where cricket has no presence:I was the chairman of the ICC Cricket Development Committee from 1996 to mid 2000. We had a dream of taking cricket to the associate member countries on a meaningful basis. We tried hard, but at the end of the day, I don't think we made a big impact. Even today, the ICC with all their good intentions has not made a big impact. There are reasons for it; Europe is a strong soccer continent and weather conditions don't suit cricket.

I went to Holland in mid 90s and found out that there were 5000 registered cricketers and 1.8 million soccer players. I went to Disneyworld in the USA and legal problems arose. Then I was in New York the day after the World Series baseball final where the newspapers said on page one, that the match was played for three and quarter hours and it was the longest final in the history of the WSB. And here we were trying to promote a seven hour match (50 overs). It's just too long. We never could have succeeded.

On will T20 will help ICC to attract other nations:Now the ICC has a new product which can possibly take to new markets like the USA and China. But it would need enormous resources to achieve that. Theoretically there are around 100 members in the ICC. It's nice on paper, but practically looking at it, there are only a handful.

But for the first time there's a chance and the ICC needs to drive it with professional people. I went to New York before the 2003 World Cup and watched some base ball. It was boring, just one home run in an entire match. T20 is far superior and vibrant, there is action with every ball.

On Gary Kirsten as the Indian coach:He's a very good player and very good person too. I know him from his childhood days and the best part of him is that he handles the pressure very well. He has been one the best cricketers for South Africa in the past and I'm sure he will do well as a coach of the Indian team. But I won't like to comment further more because playing South Africa would be his first assignment as a coach (laughs).