Dhaka: Former captain Habibul Bashar has expressed shock and surprise at the 10-year ban imposed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on him and 12 others for joining unofficial Indian Cricket League.

"It is unexpected. The 10-year ban is too harsh. I can't believe it," Bashar was quoted as saying by 'Daily Star'.

"Hopefully we will meet tomorrow (Thursday) to decide our next course of action. We may try to meet board officials to explain everything.

"We are available for national selection in any time and ICL authorities also assured us that they will release us for any kind of national duty," he said.

The BCB on Wednesday banned 13 'rebel' players for 10 years for their decision to join the ICL.

Bashar, who along with Shahriar Nafees, Alok Kapali and Dhiman Ghosh attended the official launch of "Dhaka Warriors" in New Delhi, said it was painful to be called by people as a rebel player.

"I think people in this country will not misunderstand us because we didn't commit any crime, rather we just want to play cricket. It would be an unbearable pain to be cast as a banned cricketer after playing for my country for so many years," said Bashar, who played in 50 of Bangladesh's 53 Tests scoring 3,026 runs.

"There were reasons for me to join ICL. I didn't consider only money because I know how big it is to represent my country," he said.

Besides Bashar, Shahriar Nafis, Dhiman Ghosh, Alok Kapali, Aftab Ahmed, Farhad Reza, Manjural Islam, Mabud Chowdhury, Mahboob-ul-Karim, Mohammad Rafique, Mohammad Sharif, Mosharraf Hossain and Tapash Baisya were the other players banned by BCB on Wednesday.