Karachi, Jan 28 : Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Nasim Ashraf has said that the board will defend its decision to ban cricketers who joined Indian Cricket League (ICL) after two discarded Test players announced they would go to the court to challenge the ban.

Ashraf said that the PCB is ready to face a court battle with group players, which has threatened to sue the board after being barred from playing in first-class tournaments at home.

"We are against any confrontation with the players but if they want to go to court then we will fully defend our decision there," he said.

The PCB Governing Board, which met in Karachi, had endorsed a decision to ban a group of players from representing Pakistan or playing in first-class events in the country.

Three of the players - Imran Farhat, Taufeeq Umar and Shabbir Ahmed - hit out at the PCB's decision, arguing that it was an attempt 'to destroy their livelihood'.

But Ashraf rejected this argument saying that each of the players who defected to the ICL was paid a handsome amount by the league.

"It has come to our knowledge that the players got around 200,000 dollars or more from the league which means that they are certainly not deprived of their livelihood," he said.

Ashraf said that the players were warned about the consequences of joining the ICL and they made their choice.

"Imran Farhat was under contract with the PCB and Taufeeq Umar was on retainership when they signed up with the ICL which we believe was a clear violation of the rules and regulations," he added.

The News quoted Ashraf as saying that the PCB has nothing against the players and all cricket boards like India, Sri Lanka and New Zealand have dealt the matter in a similar manner.

ANI