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PCB lifts domestic ban on ICL players
The PCB on Wednesday withdrew the domestic ban on Indian Cricket League's Pakistani recruits, allowing them to take part in domestic tournaments.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: February 11, 2009 02:54 PM IST
Read Time:2 min
Karachi:
"We have allowed them to play domestic cricket but only the ICC can decide on lifting the international cricket ban on the ICL players," PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt told a news conference on Wednesday.
"We are waiting as the ICC is holding talks with the ICL and Indian Board on the issue of granting recognition to the rebel league or find some other solution," Butt added.
He also made it clear that the ICC had toughened its regulations that govern the right of home boards to allow tournaments and matches in their own countries.
"The new regulations are much tougher and allow the ICC to penalise any member country which does not follow the new regulations that come into effect from June 1 this year," Butt said.
He said under the new regulations, the ICC could fine and even stop allocation of funds to those countries which didn't abide by the new regulations.
Butt said the ICC had allowed the 'rebels' to play domestic cricket if they got relief from courts.
A total of 19 Pakistani former and present players had earlier filed a petition in the Sindh High Court challenging the ban imposed on them by the PCB.
The court has suspended the domestic ban until the case is decided.
Butt said the PCB would like to see the ICL players return to national team but this could only be possible if the ICC allowed them to play international cricket or the players cancelled their contracts with the rebel league.
"It is an issue that needs to be resolved but we cannot do anything as the matter is now in the hands of the ICC," he said.
Butt reiterated the Board would welcome back senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf into the national team if he ended his ICL contract.
"He is one of our best players and the team definitely is missing him in the middle order but he has to leave the ICL to be considered for Pakistan again," Butt said.
The Pakistan Cricket Board on Wednesday allowed players aligned with the 'rebel' Indian Cricket League to take part in domestic tournaments but left it to ICC to decide on their international career."We have allowed them to play domestic cricket but only the ICC can decide on lifting the international cricket ban on the ICL players," PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt told a news conference on Wednesday.
"We are waiting as the ICC is holding talks with the ICL and Indian Board on the issue of granting recognition to the rebel league or find some other solution," Butt added.
He also made it clear that the ICC had toughened its regulations that govern the right of home boards to allow tournaments and matches in their own countries.
"The new regulations are much tougher and allow the ICC to penalise any member country which does not follow the new regulations that come into effect from June 1 this year," Butt said.
He said under the new regulations, the ICC could fine and even stop allocation of funds to those countries which didn't abide by the new regulations.
Butt said the ICC had allowed the 'rebels' to play domestic cricket if they got relief from courts.
A total of 19 Pakistani former and present players had earlier filed a petition in the Sindh High Court challenging the ban imposed on them by the PCB.
The court has suspended the domestic ban until the case is decided.
Butt said the PCB would like to see the ICL players return to national team but this could only be possible if the ICC allowed them to play international cricket or the players cancelled their contracts with the rebel league.
"It is an issue that needs to be resolved but we cannot do anything as the matter is now in the hands of the ICC," he said.
Butt reiterated the Board would welcome back senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf into the national team if he ended his ICL contract.
"He is one of our best players and the team definitely is missing him in the middle order but he has to leave the ICL to be considered for Pakistan again," Butt said.
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