BCCI lifts ban on ICL players

In a surprise decision, the Board of Control for Cricket in India on Wednesday agreed to lift the ban on players associated with the rebel Indian Cricket League if they sever their links with the Subhash Chandra-owned League.

BCCI president Shashank Manohar said the decision was taken after some ICL players and their support staff met Board members and admitted committing a mistake by joining the ICL.

Manohar made it clear that the players would not be given any international assignments for a year after they quit the ICL, but can immediately start playing in domestic competitions. The amnesty period is till May 31, he added.

"We have decided to grant amnesty to the ICL players and welcome them to return to the BCCI fold... The players will not be given any international assignment for one year after they quit the ICL as a punishment. But they can play in the domestic competitions. They have been given the amnesty time till May 31," Manohar told reporters after the BCCI's Working Committee meeting in Mumbai.

The ICL, which boasts of names like Brian Lara, Inzamam-ul Haq and Shane Bond in its ranks, was launched by Zee Group owner Subhash Chandra after India's debacle in the ODI World Cup in the West Indies in 2007.

But the BCCI, which shortly after came up with the Indian Premier League, refused to recognise the ICL and announced a ban on players associated with the 'rebel' league.

The BCCI also advised other national boards to adopt a similar stand on the ICL, which had become a home for many disgruntled players from across the world.

The ICL, which had India's only World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev as the chairman of its Executive body, made repeated attempts for recognition by the BCCI and the International Cricket Council only to be turned down on every occasion.

The ICC also refused to entertain the ICL's application for the same earlier this month.

The ICL decided not to stage its 2009 edition after the Mumbai terror attacks, citing security reasons.