Ever since Sachin and Lara bame youth icons, Imran Khan, the legendary Pakistan captain, was hell bent in proclaiming the country’s own star kid – Inzamam Ul haq as an equal if not better. He proved his mettle in 1992 World Cup, and grew from there. He was quite a flashy right hander in youth but sedated his batting style considerably in the tutelage of his guardian angel Jawed Miandad. Another batsman whose reflection is reminiscent in his batting style is Basit Ali.

He had bucket hands in the slips, but what really framed him was the ability to assess the situation and bat accordingly. His gait was like that of  a lazy king, and he maintained that throughout his distinguished career. His lazy elegance and Richards-like swagger is still remembered with gumption.

He played several match winning innings, particularly against India. It was coincidental that he joined the Indian rebel league ICL and from there, has moved to APL.

Richie Richarson has been named the chief recruiter of APL and coach of Premium West Indies. He will know how to deal with these profiles having captained the powerful West Indian side comprising of Brian Lara, Courtney Walsh and Curtley Ambrose in the mid nineties. He played since the start of eighties and took over the place of Larry Gomes. He created the famed quarted constituting of himself, Desmond Haynes, Gordon Greenidge and the master Sir Vivian Richards.

He modeled his batting on the fellow Jamaican Sir Vivian Richards though he was not frankly of the same class. But he needed not be ashamed. There have been none like him till now, the closest being Sachin Tendulkar.

After the champions retired together in 1991, leaving a big void, he tried and kept the team stranded together with the help of Hooper and harper, but the 1996 World Cup semi- final was the last nail on the coffin.

John Emburey was never known for spinning the ball too much a la Shane Warne. But his arm balls were hugely deceptive and often spelt death for the batsmen. Hugely built, when he bowled spin, batsmen got onfused.

He also had a very acute mind, which ensured  that Gatting and Gower regularly took advise from him to get rid of players. Very soft spoken and a thorough gentleman, he lasted 10 years but did not have that effect at the end of his career.

He has been coaching kids and counties ever since and has made quite an impression. He was also once in a list of probables to coach the Indian team.

Now the APL has contracted him to coach the Premium World Team.  The rebel player, who was associated with two rebel tours to the Apartheid-struck South African team in the eighties, has again got the license to rebel.

It is not too long before this knighted bowler was the nemesis of David Gower. Even a certain Sunil Gavaskar was found to have knightmarish days as he would swing both ways. Unlucky to be born in a weak cricketing nation (extremely weak until then), Sir Richard Hadlee carried the baton home for New Zealand lonely on quite a few occasion.

He could not succeed too much in World Cups but his performances against Austalia has been stuff of legend. He was a sprightly swinger of the ball and competed with the famed trio of Imran Khan, Kapil Dev and Ian Botham.

He retired being the highest wicket taker in Test cricket, a performace that woud stand like a beacon for players to come. Now that Muttiah Murlidharan is nearing 800 wickets in tests, he has to thank Richard Hadlee for showing him the way.  He is the executive consultant of APL.

APL is aiming to revolutionize cricket in America. Jay Mir, the man behind the show, is suggesting something along the lines. Jay feels that America certainly needs to get connected with the game and thus this period marks a crossroads in its sporting history.

Jay Mir is ferociously recruiting players, coaches, board members, consultants, panelists and others. Though ICC claims the tournament to be completely unsanctioned and has bestowed it the status of another Rebel League, it is still to dawn on Mir’s ambition. He is hunting for players from across the globe.

Already many from the ICL fold have capitulated to his lucrative deals. Also, retired players from the past are looking to make merry. Jason Gillespie and Damien Martyn are a couple of players who contributed a lot towards Aussie supremacy of late 1990’s and early 2000’s. Jason is being confirmed for the Premium World team.

He feels a little peeved at ICC trying to nip APL in its budding stage. He feels that the game will be the eventual winner and fetch greater glory through APL. Cricket in America is not being given a chance. Past ventures have failed and its only urgent that something along the lines of APL is given a stage.

Jason Gillespie does not have a vested interest. He is hardly bothered by the banned status he might fetch from ICC as he has already retired from international cricket and has had his fair share of cricketing glory. All he feels is that IPL is trying to sabotage any aspirant that is trying to spread cricket beyond the periphery of its monetary interest.