ICL players can return to fold only after cooling period

Even after snapping ties with the Indian Cricket League, 'rebel' players would have to cool their heels for about 6-12 months before they can return to international cricket, according to a PCB official.

Pakistan Cricket Board chief operating officer Salim Altaf said the International Cricket Council was considering a 'cooling' period for players who part ways with unrecognised tournaments like ICL before they can return to international cricket action.

Altaf said the 'cooling' period clause was included in the proposed regulations/law draft which is to be discussed at the ICC executive board meeting in Dubai later this month.

"There is a suggestion that a player who has played in an unauthorised tournament should have a 'cooling' period of six months or one year before he can be allowed to return to international cricket," Altaf said.

He said the new regulations governing unauthorised tournaments would become a law from June 1, once the governing board approves it.

"But there is a clear message from the ICC they want to discourage and stamp out unauthorised events which are held without consent or permission of their home boards," Altaf said.

He said the Pakistani players presently signed up with the ICL might also have to spend a 'cooling' period before returning to the national team.

"Nothing is final as yet. It all depends on what clauses of the draft regulations are approved by the board but certainly once these regulations become a law then any player (s) who are still tied up with unauthorised leagues could face problems," he said.

Altaf said the reason the board had decided to drop three ICL players from their provisional squad of 30 for the Twenty20 World Cup was because the ICC executive board had yet to give a clear ruling on the issue.

"We have also asked the ICL to send us some clarifications as we can only consider those players for national selection who end their contracts with unauthorized tournaments permanently and not temporarily," he said.

Sources in the board said that the chief selector, Abdul Qadir, had been taken to task for naming the three ICL players - Abdul Razzaq, Rana Naved and Imran Nazir - in the provisional squad for the Twenty20 World Cup.

"It proved to be an embarrassment for Pakistan since nothing is clear as yet on the ICL players and the ICC and its member boards were not very pleased with the announcement by the Pakistani selectors," one source confirmed.