Now with the T20 world cup less a couple of months away, fate of those Pakistan players who had aligned themselves with the Indian Cricket League hangs in the balance. Latest cricket news reports have said that it is unlikely that the ‘rebel’ players of the ICL would be permitted to return to international cricket. For this to happen the ICL would have to give an unconditional clearance or discharge to the players as this is a requirement put forward by the Pakistan Cricket Board. The PCB has made this demand before it can permit the players back into the national cricket team.

This is however something that the ICL is unwilling to concede. Cricket news reports have suggested that the ICL officials are willing to release players for national duty at any time; but will however not give an unconditional clearance. The PCB reportedly wants proof that the players have nothing whatsoever to do with the rebel league and in the even the fate of Abdul Razzaq, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Imran Nazir remains uncertain. When the cricket news last came in, the PCB was still awaiting clearance from the ICC. Earlier the players had been named in a list of probables for the T20 world cup but were later however dropped which caused former skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq to lash out at the PCB and the ICC.

In another amusing offshoot of the ICL standoff, it now appears that masseurs are exempt from being banned for their association with the ICL, since a masseur Abdur Rauf, who was earlier, associated with the ICL, and has now been taken on by the PCB as part of the squad touring the UAE to play an upcoming series against the Australians. Reportedly this has come after termination of Rauf’s contract with the ICL.

Meanwhile Pakistan cricket’s truant child, Mohammad Asif is undergoing training in the UK to get back into shape prior to his ban being lifted so that he can be ready to reenter the international cricket arena. Reports in the cricket news have said that Asif will also be doing an interview with BBC TV. Currently Asif is serving out a ban for having tested positive for a performance enhancing drug Nandrolone. It would seem that Asif is keen to take any chance he may have to make it back to the national squad and international cricket.

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

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