Indian and Pakistan players tied to the unofficial Indian Cricket League (ICL) have been asked to ditch the rebel organisation if they want to be considered for international cricket.
Wednesday's proposal by the Indian (BCCI) and Pakistan (PCB) cricket boards is the latest twist to the struggle between the ruling bodies in the sport and the ICL, whose players are barred from almost all forms of official cricket. The BCCI's working committee set May 31 as the deadline for the Indian players and other officials associated with the ICL to rejoin them.
"The BCCI has taken a decision to grant amnesty to players who have been associated with ICL," BCCI president Shashank Manohar told a media conference. "They have been given them time till 31st of May during which if they want they can severe all ties with ICL and come back to the BCCI."
Although the players who rejoin will immediately be considered for domestic cricket, they will need to serve a "cooling off" period of one year from the date of their informing the BCCI, Manohar added. Pakistan's ICL players, who were allowed to play domestic cricket in March following a high court order, were also set a similar May 31 deadline by the PCB.
"These players must resign from the ICL if they are to be considered for selection by the PCB," a PCB spokesman said. "While permitting such players to play cricket, PCB will decide on case-to-case basis the penalties to be imposed and the time period for which they will remain banned." Pakistani allrounder Abdul Razzaq said he was willing to leave the ICL provided he could secure a place on the national team.
"I can leave the ICL and even the (unofficial) American Premier League (APL) today as I want to play for my country. But I want guarantees I will not be ignored for national selection after that," he told Reuters. The ICL, bankrolled by one of India's largest media firms, launched the league following India's triumph in the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in 2007.
Apart from several fringe Indian players, it signed overseas players, particularly from Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh. However the BCCI, concerned the league would undermine its position, refused to recognise it and persuaded other national boards to ban players who signed up. Wednesday's decision is expected to open up similar possibilities for foreign players with their national boards.
"This decision was taken as many cricketers and people associated with support staff met us and informed us that there was a mistake committed by them in joining ICL and wanted to come back to the board," Manohar said. "That is the reason that prompted (the) taking of this decision." The International Cricket Council had this month rejected an application from the ICL seeking approval for their Twenty20 competition.