The Indian Cricket League, organisers of the rebel Twenty20 event on Thursday asserted that the prolific batsman would play for the ICL despite the development.
NEW DELHI: Dismissing that Mohammad Yousuf's signing of central contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) signalled his backtracking from the Indian Cricket League, organisers of the rebel Twenty20 event on Thursday asserted that the prolific batsman would play for the ICL despite the development.
Ashish Kaul, executive vice president of the Essel Group which bankrolls the ICL, said there was no reason to believe that Yousuf had turned his back on ICL and insisted the Pakistani run-machine would turn up for the league scheduled in November.
"As per the contract between him and us, he would play for ICL. It's wrong to assume that he is opting out of the ICL contract just because has has signed the contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board," Kaul told over phone.
"We want to make one thing clear. Our contract with anyone, not alone Yousuf, does not stop them from representing their country.
"We have been protesting against autocracy in the game and that's the very essense of ICL. And if we go and stop our players from playing for their country, we would be making the same mistake," he said.
Asked what would the organisers do if Yousuf's committments for ICL and the national team clashed, Kaul said, "The contract does not have any clauses that force the players to turn up for ICL. The player is free to set his priority."
Yousuf was ICL's prized catch as he commands high respect in the cricketing fraternity. PCB chief Nasim Ashraf was keen to wean Yousuf away from the ICL and his efforts apparently paid off with Yousuf making himself available for the series against South Africa.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}