The rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) enters its second season on Friday hoping to gain recognition from the sport's world governing body and provide more thrills than before.

ICL owner Subhash Chandra met International Cricket Council (ICC) president David Morgan In London on Tuesday to discuss official approval for the league.

"This is a very positive move by the ICC. We hope the ICC, for the sake of young cricketers, will look into the matter," ICL chairman and legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev told local media on Wednesday.

"The Indian cricket board also should consider the matter by having a dialogue with the authorities concerned and that's what we want."

The month-long Twenty20 tournament begins in the southern city of Hyderabad with a match

between defending champions Hyderabad Heroes and runners-up Lahore Badshahs.

The nine-team event wiU be held at four venues -- Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Gurgaon. The best-of-three finals will begin in Ahmedabad on November 13.

A new side this time is Dhaka Warriors from Bangladesh, led by former captain Habibul Bashar and featuring 11 internationals.

The Bangladeshi players have already been banned for 10 years for joining the ICL, but Dev hoped the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) would change its decision.

"It's really unfortunate that the BCB has banned the players for 10 years. I would like to request the BCB to change its decision because this will harm cricket in Bangladesh," said Dev, India's only World Cup-winning captain.

The ICL players have been banned from official matches by the powerful Indian board, which launched its own lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20

competition earlier this year.

The Indian board also convinced its counterparts from around the world to shun ICL players amid ICC's stated position that only tournaments okayed by the respective boards would be recognised.

"Cricket is like education and it should be open for all," Dev said.

"I don't understand how ICL will harm world cricket and I would like to request ICC not to make it like apartheid and let the ICL play ers play for their countries."

Dev also promised more fireworks this season.

"As far as marketing is concerned, you can say IPL was better But when it comes to the quality of cricket, ICL was far better Let's see who dishes out better fare this year," he said.

Top stars taking part in the ICL include retired Pakistani captain Inzamam-ul Haq, former Sri Lanka skipper Marvan Atapattu, New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond and Australian batsman Damien Martyn.