Bangladesh lifts ban on ICL players

Dhaka:

Bangladesh Cricket Board on Tuesday lifted its ban on 14 players who had aligned with the Indian Cricket League, allowing them to play domestic cricket with immediate effect but prescribing a cooling period till the end of the year for national team selection.

The BCB had last month granted amnesty to 14 'rebel' cricketers on condition they ended their contracts with the unofficial league by June 15 deadline. Subsequently, the cricketers severed their ties with the ICL.

"The 14 cricketers who were under contract with the ICL formally applied to the BCB within the deadline seeking permission to return to domestic cricket. They also submitted the necessary documents to confirm that they have terminated their contract with the ICL," BCB said in a statement.

"As they have fulfilled the requirements to avail the amnesty the BCB therefore recognises that these players are eligible to participate in all forms of domestic cricket with effect from 16 June 2009," it added.

The Bangladesh players who have returned to the official fold are: Aftab Ahmed, Alok Kapali, Dhiman Ghosh, Farhad Reza, Golam Mabud, Mahbubul Karim, Manjural Islam, Mohammad Rafique, Mohammad Sharif, Mosharraf Hossain, Nazimuddin, Shahriar Nafees and Tapash Baisya.

In September last year, they were were slapped with a 10-year ban for joining the 'rebel' league.