Asserting that boards around the world cannot bar players from earning a living through the Indian Cricket League, former Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu on Monday said the venture should be looked upon as an employment opportunity rather than a challenge to the existing set up.
"I don't think ICL should be blocked in any way. In fact, we need more such initiatives to groom talent. It should be treated as a career chosen by a cricketer. They (the boards) are not doing any good by putting sanctions," Atapattu, who retired from international cricket after the recent Test series against Australia, said in Gurgaon.
"Suppose you have eight players good enough to form your national batting line-up... what happens to number nine onwards? They also need something to fall back on. ICL is just giving such players a platform to show their talent and be paid well," he added.
Atapattu, captain of the Delhi Jets team, took a dig at the BCCI-backed Indian Premier League saying, "IPL has dragged in all the current players but ICL also has fresh talent on display. That is where the difference lies."
The ICL starts on November 30 in Panchkula and Atapattu was confident of it being a hit with the spectators.
The veteran batsman, who had a fallout with Sri Lankan selectors, said he continues to stand by his "muppets headed by a joker" comment but rejected suggestions that the tiff had any bearing on his decision to give up international cricket.
"Nothing of that sort made me retire. I knew when I wanted to go. Halfway through the innings during the second Test (against Australia) at Hobart, I knew I would retire.
"I decided to call it quits because I did not want to hang around too much as the system was just not working and secondly, I wanted to pave the way for a youngster," he explained.
"It had nothing to do with my comments on the selectors because whatever I said, I have said before as well. And I stand by it because it was all for the betterment of Sri Lankan cricket and I hope it is taken in that spirit." The right-hander said he did not regret his outburst and said barring the recent episode he has had a most satisfying career.
"I have had an up-and-down career but I think I have been very lucky. I made five ducks at the start of my career and then rebuilt my career...went on to captain my team. So it has been a rollercoaster but nothing that I can regret," he said.
He has hardly played any Twenty20 cricket but Atapattu said his 37-year-old body was ready to cope with the format which has been touted as a youngster's game.
"It is a big challenge because it's a format that I have not played much. Hopefully I will maximise my talent and I am sure that a tournament like this will help my overall fitness," he claimed.
