Pak govt considering to lift ban on rebel players

Lahore, Oct 6 (UNI) Following the footsteps of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the Pakistan government has decided to consider the case of its banned Indian Cricket League (ICL) players and resolve the crisis in consultation with the PCB.

Law minister Farooq A Naek said here that the ICL issue was discussed in a meeting with the former Test players to formulate a policy for the banned players.

The ICL has recruited 18 Pakistani players including former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq but following their association with the rebel league, the players were not considered for selection in national and domestic teams.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had banned all the players, who aligned with ICL as it was not an ICC recognised event.

''I have asked them (players) to show me their contracts with ICL so that we can formulate a new policy about them and solve the problems of both sitting and retired cricketers.

''I have spoken to the President (Asif Zardari) over this issue and he is very keen to see the revival of cricket in Pakistan,'' Naek said.

Inzammam-ul-Haq, who was also present in the meeting, said he had put forward his views on behalf of the banned players.

''I did speak to the Minister about ICL players because if an ICL player is needed to fulfill his duties for the national side, then he will come and play as it is mentioned in the contract.

''I don't think that if a player gets a chance to play for ICL, he should go and be banned by the board. This is totally unfair. This is stopping a player from earning through his chosen profession,'' he said.

Inzamam was the skipper of the Lahore Badshahs who finished runners up in the inaugural season of the ICL and will begin his campaign to finish at the top when the second season kicks off from October 10.

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