Dr Nasim Ashraf, the PCB Chairman, told reporters here at the National Stadium that any of the current players would be ineligible to play for Pakistan if they joined the lucrative ICL.
According to sources, the ICL has approached leading players such as skipper Shoaib Malik, Shoaib Akhtar, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan to play in the league scheduled to be launched in October/November.
Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has already confirmed receiving an offer to play in the breakaway series.
Responding to queries on the issue, Dr Nasim replied: “Any player who decides to play in the Indian league would not be picked again for Pakistan. There are clauses in the central contracts, outlined in clear terms that the PCB will decide where the players can compete.”
The PCB chief, however, said he was unaware of the offers being made to the players.
“However, we can’t stop anyone if someone personally decides to appear in the league. At this point of time, since the ICL has not been approved by the ICC, its status stands illegal.”
Dr Nasim pointed out that because of the clauses in the performance-based central contracts, fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul were stopped by the PCB from playing county cricket in England.
“We didn’t grant them permission because of the fear of picking up possible injuries, a natural occurrence with fast bowlers. At the same time we allowed others like Younis and Danish Kaneria to play in England, but in the case of Asif and Umar we gave them incentives to compensate their non-participation in county cricket,” he said.
“Let me make it clear that our policy backs our own interests. We have to make sure what is best for Pakistan and its cricket. These days, too much cricket is played and the risk of injuries is greater than before.
“In fact, we have told the players that they would have to take permission if they wish to take part in commercial work. I hope every player would put national interest above anything else,” added the chairman.
Commenting on the ICL, the PCB chief was confident that no cricket board would support the rebel series. “Until the ICC approves it, I’m sure nobody will back the ICL. How could we support the ICL when we have to manage our own teams with the available resources? Hypothetically speaking, if the ICC does approve the ICL we may review our policy.”
The PCB chief further said that the issue of Inzamam – who is facing an uncertain future in Test cricket after not being offered any contract by the board since he had already retired from One-day Internationals – was no ‘big deal’.
“It’s Inzamam’s personal decision if he opts to play in the Indian league. We cannot stop past players from being approached. Players who had retired or are about to quit from international cricket would be interested in the league,” he reasoned. “Here again I would like to emphasise that as long as a former player is not attached with the cricket board, he is free to play wherever he likes. But if such a person is contracted with the PCB, he is liable to face punitive action.”
Reiterating the PCB’s policy on doping, Dr Nasim stressed that there was no discrepancy between the board and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
“Since the PCB has become WADA-compliant, there is no conflict between WADA and the board’s anti-doping policy. We conducted out of competition dope tests as per the PCB policy,” he said in reference to the latest tests held earlier this week.
It may be mentioned here the PCB had not adhered to WADA’s mandatory one-hour notice procedure during the collection of urine samples.
Meanwhile, the PCB chief confirmed that there was no threat to South Africa’s tour of Pakistan next month in the wake of suicide attacks in the close range of Peshawar and Islamabad.
“South Africa will tour as per schedule, so would the ‘A’ and Under-19 teams of Australia. So far we have not received anything official from either South Africa or Australia on the issue of match venues,” he said.
The media reports on Thursday, however, contradicted the chairman’s remarks regarding the venues.
According to Zakir Khan, PCB’s Director Cricket Operations, South Africa have reportedly asked that one-day matches slated for Rawalpindi and Peshawar be moved elsewhere.
“There may be changes in two venues of One-day Internationals against South Africa. But it’s an internal decision and has nothing to do with the security issue,” he said.
South Africa are scheduled to play Tests at Karachi – where they refused four years ago because of security fears – and Lahore and the ODIs at Lahore, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Multan and Faisalabad.