When PCB published its initial list of 30 probables for World Twenty20 on Monday, all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, batsman Imran Nazir and fast bowler Rana Naved were the three happiest men as they thought this meant the end of their seclusion from the international cricket. But it took a bizarre turn only a day after when PCB announced its revised list replacing these three players with wicketkeeper Zulfiqar Jan, off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and batsman Mohammad Hafeez. The dropped cricketers are paying the price of participating in ICL- the rebel Indian cricket league.

A PCB official told the cricket news media on Tuesday, Pakistan will not include any ICL cricketers until it receives clarification on the status of their contracts in India. "We have written a letter to the ICL to get status of their contracts, whether these (contracts) have been rescinded permanently or rescinded temporarily, but we have yet to get any reply on that,”  PCB chief operating officer Salim Altaf said Tuesday.

In order to take any decision regarding the trio, the PCB first wants to make everything clear with the governing body of international cricket, and accordingly the board has sought approval of ICC for the inclusion of these three cricketers. “The PCB has sought approval from the ICC on the inclusion of Razzaq, Naved and Nazir in the list of 30. If the ICC approves the inclusion of ICL players then these ICL players will replace three players (Jan, Ajmal and Hafeez),” PCB said in a statement.

Abdul Razzaq, Imran Nazir and Rana Naved - these three Pakistani cricketers  participated in the ICL, which had been pitched by India’s largest media group even before IPL was conceived but all through its lifecycle it suffered the wrath of BCCI which has played its clout in ICC to stop it from extending its recognition to India’s first domestic T-20 tournament. The net result is: PCB banned the Pakistani cricketers who featured in the ICL from both domestic as well as international cricket.

According to a Pakistani High Court ruling, the cricketers are now allowed to take part in Pakistan’s domestic matches. But so far as their selection in the national team is concerned, PCB would consider it only when the players tear their contract with ICL. Otherwise, it would require ICC clearance for including them in the national team. The ICC however is going discuss ICL issue in Dubai on April 17 and 18.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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