Having lost maximum number of players to the unofficial Indian Cricket League, Pakistan Cricket Board has demanded a quick solution to the problem from the International Cricket Council to prevent the talent drain.
PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt made it clear that the Board had sympathies for its players banned from playing any cricket in Pakistan and would like to see a solution soon.
"We don't want our players to be banned because they have contracts with the ICL. But unfortunately we can't do anything unless the ICC changes its stance on this issue," Butt said.
When reminded that the ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat had said the ICC had not told the Boards to impose a ban on ICL players, Butt said Lorgat was wrong to say this.
"The PCB has not directly banned the players, we have banned them under rules of the ICC. The ICC rules state that no tournament can be held without permission of the home board and in the case of the ICL, the Indian Board does not recognise it as it runs its own league, the IPL," Butt said on a talk show on 'Geo Super channel'.
Butt said since the Indian Board had failed to convey any progress on its talks with the ICL the matter was going to be again discussed at the ICC Executive Board meeting in Perth on January 31.
{{/usCountry}}Butt said since the Indian Board had failed to convey any progress on its talks with the ICL the matter was going to be again discussed at the ICC Executive Board meeting in Perth on January 31.
{{/usCountry}}Butt said the Pakistani players would stay banned from international and domestic cricket until the ICC and member boards allowed recognition or found another solution to the ICL problem.
"I don't think this ban will be there for long. Because the ICL is back to talking about taking legal action, if necessary, if the ICC or Indian Board does not recognise it. And let me make it clear in Karachi the ICC lawyers have indicated ICL has a strong legal case," he said.