LONDON, Oct 29: Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq is on the verge of being released by English county Surrey because of the bowler’s participation in the Indian Cricket League (ICL).

County teams are under pressure to cut their ties with the ICL, where Saqlain plays for the Lahore Badshahs.The ICL is regarded by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as an unwelcome rival to its own Twenty20 event, the Indian Premier League (IPL), and it has done all it can to make boards around the world ostracise ICL players.

Kent, for example, have effectively been barred from the lucrative inaugural Champions League because of the ICL players in their ranks.

Earlier this month, Lancashire released ICL-affiliated captain Stuart Law, the former Australia batsman.

Surrey have decided they will have no choice but to do likewise with Saqlain.—AFP