Lahore, Feb 20 : Pakistan star batsman Mohammad Yousuf has been blocked from participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to his contract with the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL).

ICL signed him up in September 2007 when he was dropped from the Pakistan's team for the World Twenty20 championship.

But afterwards Pakistan Cricket Board persuaded him to return back and he agreed to represent Pakistan. He also sign up the IPL, a rival circuit officially sanctioned by the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI).

Yousuf's lawyer Tafuzzal Rizvi, represented him before an arbitration court in January had insisted that there was 'no contract' between the ICL and Yousuf, as ICL has taken back the money without any objection.

But the ICL lawyers said that it would be a breach of contract if Yousuf will participate in the IPL.

"Mohammad Yousuf cannot participate in the tournament organised by the IPL or any other tournament organised by any other league in direct competition with the ICL," the Daily Times quoted the lawyers representing the ICL, as saying in a letter to their IPL counterparts.

"Such participation would amount to breach of the order and our client reserve their right to take such other legal recourse against all parties concerned," ICL lawyers added.

ANI