October 26, 2007	Friday	Shawwal 13, 1428

HONG KONG, Oct 25: Brian Lara, the most successful Test batsman in history, said on Thursday that a controversial rebel series scheduled for later this year would open a new chapter in his career.

Lara, who retired from the international game in April, will join the Indian Cricket League (ICL) for its inaugural season despite major doubts over who else will play in the series and even whether it will get off the ground.

“I’m signed onto the ICL, which will hopefully get going at the end of November or December,” he said ahead of this weekend’s Hong Kong Sixes.

“It is the Twenty20 version of the game, which of course is more condensed, spectator-friendly cricket and the crowd finds it very exciting.

“I loved the Test matches, but I’m looking forward to playing Twenty20 cricket as well. Internationally, that is all I have on the cards right now.”

The Board of Control for Cricket in India is trying to squash the rebel ICL series by setting up its own multi-million-dollar league, backed by the International Cricket Council and supported by boards around the world.

Both set-ups have promised an array of world-class players, with the BCCI’s Indian Premier League saying it has signed on Test captains Graeme Smith of South Africa, Daniel Vettori of New Zealand, Shoaib Malik of Pakistan and the entire Indian team.

In the Hong Kong Sixes, Lara will play in an all-star team captained by Shane Warne and including Glenn McGrath, Craig McMillan, Geraint Jones, Anil Kumble and Heath Streak.

“It will be great to finally play alongside Warne and McGrath rather than against them,” he said. “I played sixes in Hong Kong 13 years ago so I’m looking forward to again playing some fun, fast cricket.

“I’m really enjoying my retirement and the last five months have been good, so I have no plans to play for the West Indies again,” he added.—AFP