Ashraf warns ICL quartet of "long" bans

Karachi, Sept 04: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has once again called on players joining the Indian Cricket League (ICL) to rethink their decision or be prepared for "long-term bans".

PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf said ICL, Inzamam-ul Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, Imran Farhat and Abdul Razzaq could be banned, if they did not change their decision. "I am advising them to refrain from playing in this controversial Indian league or they can face long bans," Ashraf said. "I also want to make it clear that the Pakistan Cricket Board is not toeing the line of the indian board on ICL and we are working according to our own policy. We don`t recognize this league," said Ashraf. Before joining the ICL series, Farhat had asked to be released from his contract, while Yousuf and Razzaq refused to sign their national contracts. The board did not offer any contract to Inzamam, who retired from one-day internationals and stepped down as captain during the world cup in March. Ashraf insisted that the board might take action against players, who refuse to sign the central contracts, which are legally binding documents mandatory for Pakistani players. The board recently announced bonus amounts of USD 100,000, USD 50,000 and USD 25,000 for players, who signed contracts. Ashraf promised similar bonus for Yousuf and Razzaq if they agree to sign the contracts and leave the ICL. "These bonuses are our way of appreciating the spirit of patriotism shown by the players in refusing good offers from the ICL," he said. Meanwhile, a board source said that some players from Pakistan have given inflated figures of offers made to them by the ICL to get more benefits from the PCB. Ashraf said the board was dependent on players for revenues from television rights and could not afford to let them play in a private league. Bureau Report