LAHORE: Acting on complaints from two member countries, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has termed Master Cricket League’s (MCL) move to approach current players as unacceptable since the league is meant for the retired players only.

The game’s governing body through an official letter has also instructed all member countries to keep it informed whenever current players are approached by the MCL.

The ICC in the letter states that last year it received an application from the MCL about their plans to stage a retired players’ event in the UAE in 2016. The event, it states, was sanctioned by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and after due consideration the ICC decided not to issue any official notice for the event. The letter adds that the ICC has neither approved nor disapproved the league but does not have anything against it since it is for the retired cricketers.

But the situation has taken a serious turn of late with two member countries requesting the ICC to take notice of the Master Cricket League’s move to approach current players and requesting them to seek NOC from their respective boards.

“Our decision not to issue a disapproved notice was based on the application from MCL which clearly stated that it was an event for retired players only. The Emirates Cricket Board, who sanctioned the event, did so on the basis of their negotiations with MCL for a retired players’ event. Consequently, the actions of those involved with the MCL in seeking current players’ participation in the event is unacceptable to us,” the ICC warned.

“In the meantime, if you receive a request from one of your current/non-retired players to participate in the event, would you please let us know immediately,” the letter further stated.

It may be mentioned here that the recently revised dates and venues of the MCL are now directly coinciding with Pakistan Super League. The MCL is now beginning from late January to mid February and has also relocated some of its matches from Abu Dhabi to Sharjah and Dubai where the PSL is also going to be played.

According to information available with Dawn, some prominent cricketers ignored by the PSL have been contacted by the MCL. including Taufiq Umar, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Younis Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Rana Naveed and Yasir Arafat.

Some of these players were quick to announce their retirement to become eligible for the MCL while Imran Farhat, who had also applied for an NOC for the league, has not opted to retire.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2016