Zee denies signing big stars for ICL

NEW DELHI: The Zee Television has categorically dismissed as "false" a report which claimed that legendary Brian Lara, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Inzamam-ul Haq, had been signed for its Indian Cricket league.

Zee Sports Business Head Himanshu Modi said that no such deal had been materialised so far.

"Nothing like this happened. This is all false news," he told PTI from Singapore.

Asked if Zee could sign mega cricket stars in future, Modi said "we cannot say anything at this moment, but I can assure you that we have not signed anyone as yet."

A report in Spin magazine said some of the biggest names in world cricket like Brian Lara, Shane Warne, and Glenn McGrath, who all have recently retired from international cricket, and Inzamam-ul Haq, who has quit ODIs, have been signed up for the breakaway league in Indian cricket.

Zee TV Chairman Subhash Chandra recently announced the separate cricket league offering a winner's purse of USD 1 million.

The League will be launched with a Twenty20 championship shortly after the World Cup of the newest version in South Africa in September.

A Twenty20 team will feature two overseas stars as well as four current or recent Indian internationals.