Upset at being excluded from Pakistan's Twenty20 World Cup squad, Mohammad Yousuf is "seriously" considering an offer to play in the rebel Indian Cricket League.
Yousuf had put on hold an individual endorsement deal with a Pakistani company saying he needs more time to consider his options with the national team.
Sources close to the senior batsman said United Mobile, the largest mobile phone distribution company in Pakistan, had offered Yousuf a one-year endorsement last week.
"The offer was for around 2.5 million for a year, in which Yousuf would have had to display the logo sticker of United Mobile on the back of his bat and appear in a commercial.
"But Yousuf told them to wait for a few days as he was mulling over his Pakistan future and might play in the Indian league," a source said.
Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal and Imran Nazir have already been signed by the company for a similar deal albeit for lesser amounts, the source added.
The source said Yousuf is upset with his axing and unsure about his future despite assurances from the selectors and the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman that he remains a valuable player for them and would be part of future competitions.Yousuf last year set a new Test record by scoring 1,788 runs in nine Tests.
The selectors claimed he was dropped to accommodate a younger player more suited for the Twenty20 format but could not justify the selection of forgotten batsman Misbah-ul Haq, who is 33 years of age.
"Yousuf told the sponsors that he was considering his future as a Pakistan player after the way he was treated and if Pakistan didn't want him the only option left for him was to go and play for one or two years in the Indian league and make some good money," the source claimed.
All-rounder Abdul Razzaq, who was also a surprise exclusion from the squad, meanwhile, told a television programme on Thursday that he would 'seriously' have to consider the ICL option after being dumped by the selectors.
