ICL Foreign Players Can Switch to IPL – BCCI

Article taken from Cricinfo

November 27, 2007

International players in the ICL will have to terminate their contracts if they wish to join the IPL © AFP

Foreign players who have signed for the Indian Cricket League (ICL) could become eligible to participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL), a franchise Twenty20 tournament launched by the Indian board.

The BCCI, which has refused to recognise the ICL by perceiving it to be a rebel league, is considering lifting the ban to allow the cream of international players to take part in their own tournament.

“We could allow the foreign players to play in the Indian Premier League if they terminate their contracts with ICL,” Rajiv Shulka, a BCCI vice-president, told Reuters. However, the board insisted that the ban on Indian domestic players linked to the ICL stands, for the moment. “There is a suggestion for giving a general amnesty but there has been no consensus on it,” Shukla said.

Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf had earlier signed for the ICL, which threatened to end his career with Pakistan and he reversed his decision and joined the IPL instead. The IPL now has nearly 50 international players in its roster, including several current players from Australia.

The IPL is set to commence in April next year, while the ICL’s Twenty20 tournament gets underway on November 30 in Chandigarh.

Lalit Modi, the IPL chairman, said more than 100 bids from several countries have been received for team franchises. A base price of $59 million has been set for the first year for bidders of a five-year media rights deal.