The rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) has signed 10 more Pakistan players for its next tournament. Official sources confirmed the ICL had reached an agreement with 10 Pakistani players, taking the number to 16 since last year. Former test player Humayun Farhat said he was one of the players who had signed up.
"Yes, I have signed up to play for the ICL," Farhat told Reuters on Wednesday. "Despite being the best wicketkeeper in domestic cricket I have not got a chance to play for Pakistan." Imran Nazir, Hasan Reza, Naved Latif, Rana Naved ul Hasan, Mohammad Sami, Arshad Khan, Mushtaq Ahmed and Saqlain Mushtaq are also reported to have signed up.
Arshad said he had received an attractive offer from the ICL and had resigned from his post as a member of the national junior selection committee. "At my age I have got some limited options, which I have taken up," he added.
Pakistan's cricket board has banned six players - Inzamam-ul-Haq, Imran Farhat, Shabbir Ahmed, Abdul Razzaq, Taufiq Umar and Azhar Mahmood - who took part in the inaugural Twenty20 edition of the tournament last December. The ICL is not recognised by International Cricket Council (ICC) member boards.
Pakistan's board said its policy on players joining the ICL would remain unchanged. "We are doing everything to increase financial benefits for our national and domestic players. But if anyone wants to join the ICL we wish him good luck," said Zakir Khan, director cricket operations. The ICL's representative in Pakistan, Moin Khan, would not comment on the new signings and added that any announcement would be made from headquarters in India.