December 27, 2007	Thursday	Zilhaj 16, 1428

LAHORE, Dec 26: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday confirmed that all six players playing in the Indian Cricket League (ICL) are not allowed to play domestic cricket, as the breakaway league was not recognised by the board.

A PCB spokesman told Dawn that an additional clause of 2.2 in this connection had been included in playing conditions of the ongoing Quaid-i-Azam Trophy competition, under which six players — namely Inzamam-ul-Haq, Abdul Razzaq, Shabbir Ahmed, Taufiq Umar, Imran Farhat and Azhar Mahmood were not allowed to represent their parent departments in any PCB-recognised tournament since they had participated in the controversial ICL.

“Yes, the PCB has written a letter to all the affiliated units on Dec 6 instructing them not to allow (to play) any such players, who are involved with any league cricket, not recognised by the board,”

PCB media director Ahsan Hameed Malik said.

Asked why the PCB took a decision when the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy had entered its final stages, and some of the affected players had also featured in the initial-round matches, Ahsan responded: “We can only take action when the players have played for any banned league.

“There were reports about these players’ signing with the ICL, but the PCB has to wait till their appearing in the Indian competition,” he stated.

He said the decision would also be referred to the Governing Board for approval in its next meeting scheduled to be held on Jan 19.

Meanwhile, the reports gathered on the issue have revealed that six more cricketers, mainly those who don’t have confirmed or permanent places in the national team, are considering to join the ICL, a move that may hit Pakistan’s back-up strength badly at a time when they have a hectic home season ahead.

Next month, Pakistan are to play a one-day series against Zimbabwe at home followed by a full-fledged home series against Australia in March besides participating in two prestigious multi-nation limited-overs events – Asia Cup and the ICC Champions Trophy, both to be contested on their home soil.

In the meantime, Imran Farhat, one of the affected players, when contacted, said he would launch a legal fight against the PCB chief over the issue, adding he had almost completed the negotiation with his lawyer to get a stay-order.

Taufiq Umar and Shabbir Ahmed are also likely to move the court.

“It is not the prerogative of the PCB to stop us from playing cricket for our parent department. Yes our department can take the case, since it pays us for representing them in the domestic cricket,” Imran said, adding, “The PCB is only punishing the players to please its Indian counterpart, otherwise there is nothing wrong in the entire matter.”

He further said as the Habib Bank Limited (HBL), his parent department, were about to qualify for the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy final, the decision (to ban players from appearing in domestic cricket) could harm his team at a crucial stage.