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Shoaib can dump IPL to join ICL: Sources
Shoaib Akhtar could dump the BCCI-backed Indian Premier League to sign up for the rebel Indian Cricket League as his relations with the national board cont
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: February 20, 2008 07:30 AM IST
Read Time:2 min
Karachi:
Sources close to Akhtar say that the speedster has only signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the IPL, which is backed by the Pakistan board as well.
And since he is unhappy with the treatment being meted out to him, he is now considering taking on the Board by signing up for the ICL.
Moin Khan, a representative of the ICL in Pakistan, said that he could not comment on Shoaib's intentions but confirmed the fast bowler was made an offer last year when the ICL had started procuring players for its tournament.
But he confirmed that at present the ICL was looking at signing up around nine more players from Pakistan and negotiations were continuing with them.
"There is a proposal to field one team of Pakistani players in the next league and we need more players to add to the six we already have with us," he said.
Inzamam-ul Haq, Imran Farhat, Taufiq Umar, Abdul Razzaq, Shabbir Ahmed and Azhar Mahmood, all Test players are already on the ICL payroll.
Akhtar, sources say, could be an addition because he is not happy at being dropped for the home series against Zimbabwe and also with the move to drop him from the central contracts list by the Board.
"He is unhappy at repeated statements of the selectors that he needs to prove his match fitness. He is unhappy because he feels he bowled his heart out in India even in sickness," a source close to Akhtar said.
The Board has appointed Akhtar as captain of one of the five teams taking part in the new Pentangular tournament from February 11 but he said today he had yet not made up his mind to accept the offer.
"The Board didn't consult me or talk to me while making me captain. I am still unsure about accepting this assignment," he said.
Pakistan's controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar could dump the BCCI-backed Indian Premier League to sign up for the rebel Indian Cricket League as his relations with the national board continue to deteriorate by the day.Sources close to Akhtar say that the speedster has only signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the IPL, which is backed by the Pakistan board as well.
And since he is unhappy with the treatment being meted out to him, he is now considering taking on the Board by signing up for the ICL.
Moin Khan, a representative of the ICL in Pakistan, said that he could not comment on Shoaib's intentions but confirmed the fast bowler was made an offer last year when the ICL had started procuring players for its tournament.
But he confirmed that at present the ICL was looking at signing up around nine more players from Pakistan and negotiations were continuing with them.
"There is a proposal to field one team of Pakistani players in the next league and we need more players to add to the six we already have with us," he said.
Inzamam-ul Haq, Imran Farhat, Taufiq Umar, Abdul Razzaq, Shabbir Ahmed and Azhar Mahmood, all Test players are already on the ICL payroll.
Akhtar, sources say, could be an addition because he is not happy at being dropped for the home series against Zimbabwe and also with the move to drop him from the central contracts list by the Board.
"He is unhappy at repeated statements of the selectors that he needs to prove his match fitness. He is unhappy because he feels he bowled his heart out in India even in sickness," a source close to Akhtar said.
The Board has appointed Akhtar as captain of one of the five teams taking part in the new Pentangular tournament from February 11 but he said today he had yet not made up his mind to accept the offer.
"The Board didn't consult me or talk to me while making me captain. I am still unsure about accepting this assignment," he said.
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