Imran, Taufiq to contest PCB ban

Lahore, Jan 27 (UNI) Reacting to the ban imposed on them by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for joining the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), former Test batsmen Imran Farhat and Taufiq Umar said they will challenge the decision in court.

''It is unjust to ban us from playing domestic cricket because it's our bread and butter. We will take the matter to the court very soon and fight this ban,'' Imran and Taufiq were quoted as saying by the 'Dawn'.

The players had withdrew a petition they had filed in December last year but matters have heated up following the PCB ban.

''We had filed the petition last month but after PCB showed some leniency we withdrew it,'' Imran said. ''But now the PCB has taken a U-turn on the matter so we are going to file the case by next week.'' Imran also claimed that they were supported by former captain Inzamam, who had also played in the ICL and is one of the six cricketers banned by the PCB.

''Inzamam has also promised his support and there is no rule on which they can ban us,'' he said.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain and ex-chief selector Aamir Sohail announced his support for the banned players saying,''The PCB invited Inzamam to play a Test match against South Africa (last year) after he had signed a contract with the ICL and they are now banning players.'' The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had decided to ban players who had featured in the inaugural Indian Cricket League (ICL) on January 25.

Besides Imran and Taufiq, former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, Abdul Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood and Shabbir Ahmed who had also played in the ICL, were the ones affected by the PCB ban.

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