Inzamam slams PCB for demanding NOCs from ICL players

Pakistan's former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq today slammed the cricket authorities of the country for demanding NOC's from the ICL for their players to be considered for national selection.

"On one hand the Board says it does not recognise the ICL which it considers as an unauthorised tournament and on the other, it is asking the players to get an NOC from the same league. If they want NOC's basically it means the PCB is recognising the ICL," Inzamam said on the sidelines of a function in Lahore.

The former batsman said he couldn't understand the reluctance of the Board to allow the ICL players back when they themselves were willing to resign from the ICL.

"Why place such unnecessary conditions on the players who want to play for their country again," he said. Inzamam, who retired in 2007 after an illustrious career spanning 120 Tests and 387 one-day internationals, said the Pakistan Board needed to take decisions based on its own interests and that of Pakistan cricket.

"They should not be dictated by others. If three of four of the ICL players had been included in the Pakistan squad for the Twenty20 World Cup I am sure we would have fielded a very strong combination in the tournament," he said.

Inzamam said it was strange that the Board sent the names of three ICL players in the preliminary squad for the T20 World Cup and withdraw them the next day.

"Something like this can only happen in Pakistan cricket," the burly batsman noted.

Inzamam, who led the popular Lahore Badshah's team in the rebel League, said he didn't think the ICL's future was bleak contrary to reports in the media. He also had no issues with the Board wanting to impose fines on players who leave the ICL to return for national cricket.

"Players will earn whether they play in the ICL or for the Pakistan team," he said.

Inzamam also said he didn't think it would make a difference to players if the ICC didn't recognise the proposed American Premier League.

"I think regardless of its status players will join the APL." Inzamam felt the PCB had delayed its decision of filing a legal challenge against the ICC decision to shift the 2011 World Cup matches from Pakistan.

"It is a good decision but it should have been taken earlier. We should not have wasted time."