LAHORE, March 19: A decision on whether or not Mohammad Yousuf will be permitted to feature in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is likely to be made on March 29, following a final hearing of the Mumbai-based arbitration court looking into the dispute.

Yousuf had initially signed up for the Indian Cricket League (ICL) last year, seemingly in protest after he was dropped from the Pakistan squad for the World Twenty20 Championship.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), however, finally, convinced him to change his mind and renege on his contract, luring him back with the promise of an IPL contract.

The ICL took the matter to an arbitration court, claiming Yousuf had already signed up and his contract prevented him from playing in any rival league.

The matter has been facing legal hitches since then, a few hearings this year so far not resolving anything.

Yousuf was the only player whose services were not sold at the recent IPL auctions, franchises definitely hesitant over his legal status.

“The PCB is fully defending Yousuf’s decision to play in the IPL,” Chairman PCB Dr Nasim Ashraf said.

“We have lawyers in India handling the matter and a legal representative from the board has also been there at the hearings. The last hearing went on for considerably longer than expected but a final decision is now expected on March 29.”

Dr Nasim also said though Yousuf had not been bought by any franchise, the IPL had guaranteed to match the package that the ICL had offered to him.

—Agencies