ICL nothing more than Micky Mouse Cricket: Talat Ali

Pakistan team manager Talat Ali laughs off attempts by the rebel league to rope in Pakistani cricketers, saying it lacks potential to tempt quality players.

Pakistan team manager Talat Ali has laughed off attempts by the Indian Cricket League to rope in Pakistani cricketers, saying ICL was nothing more than 'Micky Mouse' cricket and lacked potential to tempt quality players.

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"I use this word because even if it is held it is not official or serious cricket. It is a rebel series not involving countries and it would be more befitting if it was held in Disneyland instead of in a Test playing nation," Ali said.

ICL's efforts to rope in Pakistani players would not see the light of day, he claimed.

"I don't see this league tempting our players no matter what stage of their career they are in," he said.

Reacting to ICL's claims that it has been launched to scout talent, Ali said that was the responsibility of the respective cricket boards and not of private entrepreneurs.

"Even if someone wants to do something privately for the sport and young players they must have the blessings of the concerned cricket authorities and an example of this is the MRF Pace Academy in India or Intikhab Alam's academy in Muridke."

But even as Ali came out with his strong statement against ICL, concerns are growing in Pakistan cricket over senior players Abdul Razzaq and Mohammad Yousuf failing to sign the new central contracts offered by PCB.

Razzaq and Yousuf are said to be among the seven Pakistan players who have been offered lucrative contracts by the ICL although Yousuf has denied getting any such offer.

Yousuf said that he was busy attending to his ill mother, and that he had not heard anything from the ICL organisers.

A source in the Pakistan team, however, said both the players could apparently be waiting to see if they were in Pakistans 15-member squad for the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship before deciding on the potential ICL offers.

The national selectors have decided in principle to select Razzaq in the Twenty20 squad but were still undecided on Yousuf, he said.

Coincidentally, both the senior players left the training camp in Karachi last week but for different reasons.

While Yousuf said he was going to be with his ill mother, Razzaq suffered serious bout of a stomach bug.

Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif and Shahid Afridi had refused lucrative offers from ICL organisers, who are believed to have struck a deal with former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.