December 01, 2007	Saturday	Ziqa’ad 20, 1428

NEW DELHI, Nov 30: Pakistan’s premier batsman Mohammad Yousuf, who recently pulled out of the Indian Cricket League (ICL), is set to face an arbitration hearing in Mumbai on Dec 15.

Yousuf had signed with the ICL in the wake of his exclusion from Pakistan’s squad for the Twenty20 World Championship before cancelling his agreement after talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Yousuf then signed a national contract besides signing up to play in the India Premier League (IPL), a recognised league that is run by four different national boards and is endorsed by the ICC.

The ICL organisers insist he can’t join the rival league (IPL).

“It’s an open and shut case as far as we’re concerned,” said Ashish Kaul, the Executive Vice-president of the Essel Group, said. “The contract clearly says he can’t play in any other professional league.”

Meanwhile the PCB, which convinced Yousuf to cancel his contract, have pledged their full backing.

“We will fully defend Yousuf, if he is taken to court using all legal means,” said Chairman of the PCB Dr Nasim Ashraf.

Besides Yousuf, all of the ICL’s other Pakistani recruits have decided to honour their commitments with the league.

The most prominent among them is Inzamam-ul-Haq, who despite having signed on with the ICL, was given an opportunity to make his exit from international cricket in the second Test against South Africa recently.

The others in the ICL mix are Abdul Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood, Taufeeq Umar, Imran Farhat and Shabbir Ahmed.—Agencies