IPL must fix age limit to make it attractive

Dubai: The Indian Premier League (IPL) should fix an age limit for its players, according to Shyam Bhatia, the patron of Dubai Cricket Council.

"If IPL has to remain attractive to the spectators it should put an age limit on its players. Players like Andrew Symonds and Adam Gilchrist were not at their best like in the past because of their age factor. Preference should be given for more youngsters," said Bhatia, who promotes cricket around the world, distributing cricket kit to under privileged children through his Cricket for Care programme.

"IPL follows the Twenty20 format, which is a fast game. Fielding plays a vital role. A cricketer above the age of 38 can rarely be quick on the field. His running between the wickets too will not be quick and in IPL every run counts. Spectators too want to see quick action and that will be possible only from young and agile cricketers," said Bhatia, who honours top performers in UAE cricket through cash awards every year.

"The teams that have reached the last four are the teams which gelled very well. Kochi and Pune were not at all impressive. Bangalore was not at their best till the arrival of Chris Gayle that transformed them into winners. Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai combined very well as a team and hence they deserved to be among the last four," he said.