Pakistan has pulled three Indian Cricket League (ICL)-contracted players from a preliminary Twenty20 World Cup squad, while they seek a ‘clear ruling’ from the International Cricket Council on the players’ eligibility.
Launched last year, the unofficial ICL has signed many international players, but it is not recognised by the ICC or its members, and those taking part attract automatic bans from all forms of official cricket.
Pakistan selectors this week named ICL-contracted Abdul Razzaq, Rana Naved and Imran Nazir in a 30-man squad to be trimmed to 15 for the tournament in England in June.
The three would be replaced by Zulfiqar Jan, Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez, said Saleem Altaf, chief operating officer of the Pakistan Cricket Board official, on Wednesday.
‘The factual position is that we have dropped these players as we are still waiting for a clear ruling from the International Cricket Council on the ICL players,’ Altaf said.
Just a couple of days ago the Pakistan selection committee included the three players in their preliminary squad for the Twenty20 World Cup that are banned from the national team because of their contracts with the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL).
Chief selector Abdul Qadir told a news conference on Monday that the trio would only be retained in the squad if they were cleared by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC).
‘We were asked to pick the best Twenty20 players in the preliminary squad which we have done. Naturally their final selection is now dependent on these players being cleared by the board to play for the country,’ Qadir said.
The three are among 17 players contracted by the ICL who were recently allowed by the Sindh High Court to play domestic cricket but they are still banned from representing Pakistan.
The International Cricket Council and its members do not recognise the league.
Razzaq and Naved, along with senior batsman Mohammed Yousuf, had informed the PCB they were willing to forgo their ICL contracts if they were reconsidered for national selection.
It seems now that the Pakistan Cricket Board has once again caved into the pressure of the ICC and its stance on ICL players.
With the ICC to decide the fate of the ICL players later this year will Pakistan have enought firepower going into the Twenty20 World Cup?
How is the ICL any different from the numerous organised leagues that exist around the world? Is is it only a matter of the financial clout that the ICC and the BCCI have over world cricket?
Should the ICL players finally take legal action against the PCB and the ICC in the international court of law?
(1) pakistan team is incomplete without these players,they are most ferocious player in t-20
(2) Bcci does not have the right to ban the ICL players world wide,i believe BCCI should be sued by all the players in ICL for damaging their profession,they are professional they earn their bread & butter with cricket.
(3) all the ICL player should be united and fight for their right.How can ICL be a rebel,they were established before IPL.
pier
I guess its excellent for Pakistan Cricket Team. Abdul Razzak and Rana Naveed are the best All rounders of the shorter form of cricket. More importantly that the world cup is in England, both of them can exploit the swing conditions in the best possible manner. As for imran nazir, he is an automatic pick in any T20 team in the world with explosive batting and an even aggressive attitude.
As for bringing glory back to Pakistan cricket, I’m assuming you’re talking about on-field matters. When was the glory lost in T20? We made it the final of the last championship, even beat SL at home and our players are performing well in the charts. And it’s just the squad that the ICL players have been included in..we might need to leave the discussion until the ICC okays them for inclusion in the 15-man team.
I think the ICL players will definitely boost Pakistan’s chances in the Twenty20 World Cup. However, their inclusion does not give the right message to domestic players who have been playing cricket regularly in the country and performing.