September 29, 2007	Saturday	Ramazan 16, 1428

NEW DELHI, Sept 28: Former New Zealand stars Chris Cairns and Nathan Astle have signed deals with the breakaway Indian Cricket League (ICL), organisers announced on Friday.

Four other former international cricketers, including Pakistan’s Azhar Mahmood, have joined ranks with the multi-million dollar league, a statement from Zee Telefilms, who are bankrolling the league, said. Kiwi players Chris Harris and Hamish Marshall, and England’s Darren Maddy, complete the new list of signings by the league, set to start later this year.

Kapil Dev, the legendary Indian all-rounder who spearheads the ICL, said the deals were consistent with the league’s promise to attract quality international players.

“The signings are in line with our objective of providing the best platform to young cricketers to play alongside the superstars of international cricket,” he said.

The fresh deals take the total number of international players to be aligned with the rebel league to 12, with questions hanging over the availability of Pakistan’s Mohammad Yousuf.

Former Test captains Brian Lara of the West Indies and Inzamam-ul-Haq of Pakistan lead the ICL list, which also includes S. Africans Lance Klusener and Nicky Boje. –AFP