March 01, 2008	Saturday	Safar 22, 1429

LAHORE, Feb 29: A 17-member Lahore ‘Badshah’ team – comprising 15 Pakistani Test and international cricketers – left here for India to play in the second edition of the breakaway Indian Cricket League (ICL) to be held there from March 9 to April 7.

The team, led by former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq, left to take part in the league as one unit.

In the inaugural edition five Pakistan players had taken part in the league but they had represented different teams.

However, this time, despite the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) ban on all the five cricketers who appeared in the first edition, the numbers have been increased to almost 17. The remaining players may also face the ban after appearing in the league.

Those who have joined the ICL are Imran Farhat, Imran Nazir, Mohammad Sami, Hasan Raza, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmed, Arshad Khan, Taufiq Umar, Naved Latif, Shahid Nazir, Riaz Afridi, Humayun Farhat, Azhar Mahmood, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Abdul Razzaq, Shabbir Ahmed besides Inzamam.

Except for Shabbir and Razzaq all others will be representing the ‘Lahore Badshah’ team.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain Moin Khan, who also left with the team for India as coach, urged the PCB to change its policy of banning players for joining the ICL.

“Only those who have been ignored for the national team and retired had joined the ICL and they’ve the right to play for anyone to earn money,” Moin claimed.

He added that ‘Lahore Badshah’ team looked like the favourites to win the eight-team ICL event as, he believed, it almost looked-like second-string Pakistan.

Mushtaq Ahmed, the former Test leg-spinner, who is also facing problems participating in English county matches because of the ban imposed by the PCB, hoped the board would issue him the NOC to play for Sussex in the championship this summer.