The hectic international schedule and financial issues are preventing organisers of the ICL from completing the process of signing players.
KARACHI: The hectic international schedule and financial issues are preventing organisers of the Indian Cricket League (ICL) from completing the process of signing players for their inaugural competition slated in October, according to a former Pakistan captain.
The ex-skipper, who has been approached by the organizers to play in the ICL but is still negotiating terms with them, told that several factors were stopping players from signing contracts.
"They want players to be available for them for 45 days and the money they are offering to some (not the top stars) is not enough.
Secondly, some players are under pressure from their cricket boards to not sign contracts for the league and some are facing time hassles because of the hectic international schedule," he said.
ICL, floated by Essel Group controls India's biggest media firm Zee Telefilms, is planning a Twenty20 tournament.
The BCCI has refused to endorse the ICL and warned its state affiliates and players of sanctions if they get associated with it.
However, the organisers have signed former West Indies skipper Brian Lara and are negotiating with Australian bowling greats Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, New Zealand's Stephen Fleming and former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.
The Pakistani player (not Inzamam) said the organizers had approached some players who are contracted to the Lashings club in England, but other than New Zealand allrounder Chris Cairns, no one has signed any contract.
"Apparently Lara has come on board because they are paying him around USD 200,000, but the rest are getting lesser offers," the Pakistani player said.
"That is the reason why Warne and McGrath are still negotiating through their agents," he added.
Cricket analysts see the ICL as having the potential to challenge the International Cricket Council's official calendar and Inzamam said there were fears that once players got used to being paid good money by the ICL, they would make similar demands from their home boards.
In reaction to the ICL offer to Inzamam, the Pakistan Cricket Board has said that though he was not a contracted player with them, he would still have to get clearance from the board to play in India.
"As far as those players are concerned who are contracted to us, there is no question of them being allowed to play in the ICL at this stage. But the board is still finalising its official policy on this tournament," PCB spokesman Ehsan Malik said.
The former Pakistan captain said even if he decided to play in the ICL he would seek the board's permission.
"It is a case of not going to any other country but India and we need to get clearance from our board first," he said.
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