PCB recommends six players for IPL
By Our Sports Reporter
LAHORE, Oct 11: After Mohammad Yousuf retracted his decision to join the Indian Cricket League (ICL), former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq followed suit as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has recommended both alongwith four other Pakistani players for the Indian Premier League (IPL), starting from next year.
PCB Chief Operating Officer, (COO) Shafqat Naghmi told reporters on Thursday that like Yousuf, Inzamam would also not be playing for the ICL which had not been recognised, neither by the ICC nor by other cricket boards. Instead the duo alongwith Shoaib Akhtar, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik would be the part of the IPL, recognised by all the boards.
Yousuf, Inzamam, Imran Farhat and Abdul Razzaq are the four Pakistani players, who had signed with the ICL. After Yousuf and Inzamam, opted out, only Imran and Razzaq were left in the contract of the ICL. Imran is likely to leave for India on Nov 1.
Though, Naghmi avoided to disclose the financial packages of the six Pakistani players, there are reports Shoaib Akhtar, Inzamam and Yousuf would be getting USD one million, each.
Yousuf has been served notice by the ICL for announcing his withdrawal from the league.
A legal battle is likely to ensue over the issue.
http://dawn.com/2007/10/12/spt3.htm
ICL is surely doomed now. IPL’s packages are somewhat on par with ICL, with the additional benefit of being the “recognized” league.