'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABgf/2gAIAQEAAAAALTj/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAF/9oACAECEAAAAFv/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAE/9oACAEDEAAAAA//xAAhEAABAwQBBQAAAAAAAAAAAAACAQMEAAUREgYHITFC0v/aAAgBAQABPwB+DYJ3RqZyF20vBcmJ4Qheak+SLK7KK+uFEaCTGQBQoraljuu6/Nf/xAAYEQACAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABEgACYf/aAAgBAgEBPwBi1js//8QAFxEBAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQACEv/aAAgBAwEBPwAqZCf/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Ian Botham taking a jibe at the IPL in 2014
One of the most controversial lectures in the Spirit of Cricket series was delivered by Sir Ian Botham in 2014 when he demanded the Indian Premier League be scrapped as it was 'too powerful'.
Trending
Botham said that the BCCI lured the best players in the world to participate in the IPL without paying the respective cricket boards. The legendary England cricketer also stated that the Indian domestic T20 league was highly dangerous and bad for cricket.
The most controversial aspect of his speech was the use of the term 'slaves' for the players who played in the IPL. Several pundits and cricketers took offence to this and demonstrated how cricketers featuring in the IPL were anything but slaves.
The England all-rounder received plenty of flak for taking a jibe at cricket's most lucrative and popular product -the IPL.
Follow IPL Auction 2025 Live Updates, News & Biddings at Sportskeeda. Get the fastest updates on Mega-Auction and cricket news
