August 21, 2007	Tuesday	Sha’aban 7, 1428

LAHORE, Aug 20: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), in a sharp reaction to the news of four key Pakistan players joining the Indian Cricket League (ICL) on Monday, said they will be subjected to life bans for their action while utmost efforts will be made to persuade middle-order batsman Yousuf to change his mind.

Yousuf alongwith former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, opener Imran Farhat and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq have reportedly joined the ICL according to a press conference held in Mumbai by former Indian skipper Kapil Dev.

“Yousuf is our key batsman, a national asset and the team needs him. We will make all efforts to convince him to change the mind even if he has joined the ICL,” PCB Chief Operating Officer (COO) Shafqat Naghmi told a press conference on Monday afternoon.

Not appearing too bothered by the decision of the other three players, Naghmi said he was confident that Yousuf could not have signed the contract with the ICL. “Yousuf is a wise man and sincere to the country. I believe he will not make any decision against the country’s interest,” he said.

Asked how PCB could impose life bans on the defecting players, Naghmi said the constitution allowed the board to take such decision.

When reminded about the absence of any constitution in the board for the last eight years, Naghmi said it was only suspended to impose the ad hoc on the PCB and the board could take directions from the existing constitution.

Defending the decision of imposing life ban on players, Naghmi said since the PCB made a lot of investment on every player, it had the right to use their talent for the country’s cricket. But if anyone preferred his own interest over the country the PCB had the right to impose a ban on him.

Naghmi said all procedures will be in place prior to imposing life ban on the players. However, he added that the board will have to confirm the validity of the news before taking any decision. “After completing the process, all such cases will be put before the PCB ad hoc committee to take a final decision.”

Naghmi also dismissed suggestions that the four players were forced to join the ICL after getting snubbed by the national selection committee in the Twenty20 Cup. “The Indian cricket board has also sidelined Dravid, Ganguly and Tendulkar from the Twenty-20 Cup. South Africa has dropped Kallis while Kiwi skipper Stephen Fleming has been left out also. So if we preferred those who suit this demanding form of cricket, I think there’s nothing wrong with it,” he emphasised.