PCB warns Inzy against joining ICL

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Naseem Ashraf on Tuesday issued a clear warning to former captain Inzamam-ul Haq, saying he would not be considered for national selection if he decides to play for the breakaway Indian Cricket League.

"Since the International Cricket Council (ICC) does not recognise this private tournament our position is clear -- any Pakistani player who plays in the League will not be considered for national selection again," Ashraf told PTI.

"Our policy is clear we will not give permission to any of our players to play in the Indian league as it is not supported by the officialdom," he said.

Inzamam, who has been ignored by the PCB for a central contract after announcing retirement from the one-day cricket following Pakistan's World Cup debacle, on Monday said he would like to play in the League if the terms were right from the ICL organisers.

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif also said from London that he had also been spoken to by the ICL organisers but would not go to India unless he got PCB clearance.

"It is all too premature but I would like to have clearance from the PCB to play in the ICL," he added.

Rashid said he was interested in playing in the ICL if the money was good but not at the risk of spoiling his relations with the Board.

Cricket analysts, however, have questioned how the Board could stop those players from accepting contracts from the ICL who are not contracted to them.

"Basically, if you go to court it comes down to depriving a professional the right to earn from his profession if he has no legal obligations with the governing authority. The same thing happened during the Kerry Packer days," said an analyst.

First Published: Jul 31, 2007 12:31 IST