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BCCI’s grants amnesty to ICL players

Special Correspondent

The willing players have to sever ties with ICL by May 31
The players cannot play at international level for one year

Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has resolved to throw the doors open for all Indian cricketers and support staff contracted with the Indian Cricket League (ICL), and find their way back to BCCI-promoted mainstream cricket, provided they snap all links with the ICL by May 31.

Clearly encouraged by the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) repeated rebuff to ICL’s application for recognition, the BCCI took the decision at its working committee meeting here on Wednesday to ‘forgive’ the cricketers, treat their decision to play in the ICL as ‘let bygones be bygones’ and also following expression of interest from a good number of ICL-associated cricketers of their keenness to return to the BCCI fold.

This decision is being seen as a virtual body blow to the ICL, which has announced resumption of its T20 league in October-November. Those who joined the ICL two years ago would be allowed to play in BCCI’s domestic tournaments from the 2009-10 season, but only after providing documentary evidence of having severed their ties with the ICL. First class cricketers earn upwards of Rs. 15 lakh each season and for the 2007-08 season, a first class cricketer who played in the senior tournaments received close to Rs. 40,000 per match day.

Multiple benefits

Should the ICL cricketers return, they also stand a chance to be picked by the IPL franchises for the 2010 competition. More significantly, a return would strengthen Ranji Trophy teams that have suffered on account of a large number of cricketers joining the ICL, primarily due to the money factor.

Shashank Manohar, President, BCCI said: “The BCCI at its Working Committee meeting today has decided to grant amnesty to those cricketers associated with ICL. They have to sever all ties with the ICL and come back to BCCI by May 31.

“Further we have also taken a decision not to select the players and assign duties for the support staff (physios, umpires and coaches) for international cricket for one year.

“Many cricketers and support staff met us and informed us that they had committed a mistake by them in joining ICL and they want to come back to the BCCI. This is the reason that prompted us to take the decision.”

“I cannot quantify the numbers, but a lot many have spoken to us. The players and the support staff have to cancel their contracts and show us the document. They can resume playing in domestic cricket immediately,” added Mr. Manohar.

When asked if some players who are associated with the ICL as Directors would also be welcomed, Mr. Manohar said: “If they want to come, they can come, because we consider them as a family. If they have committed a mistake, fine. They have chance to improve and we have decided to give them a one-off chance.

“The ICC unanimously rejected the application of the ICL for recognition. Pakistan abstained at the meeting,” said Mr. Manohar.

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