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BCCI lifts ban on ICL players on Wednesday |
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Board of Control for Cricket in India on Wednesday has lifted the ban on players associated with the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) by offering a surprise `amnesty`, which will make them eligible to play for the country again after a period of one year.
The board had maintained a strong stand for close to two years. The ICL players have been given time till May 31 to cut association with the Subhash Chandra-owned League, which was launched in 2007 but was not recognised by the ICC or the BCCI.
At a press conference, BCCI President Shashank Manohar stated, "The BCCI has decided to grant amnesty to all players, support staff and anyone else connected with ICL provided they cancel all their existing contracts with the ICL by May 31."
He added, "But they will not be considered for international cricket for one year though they can play domestic cricket. The Board took the decision after a lot many players and support staff had approached us and admitted they had made a mistake and wanted to come back into the BCCI fold."
This move by BCCI has cleared the way for active ex-internationals like Dinesh Mongia, Hemang Badani and Rohan Gavaskar, coaches such as Sandeep Patil, Balwinder Sandhu and others on administrative side of the ICL like ex-captain Kapil Dev and Kiran More to return to the official body.
Manohar stated that the International Cricket Council had earlier this month rejected an ICL application to give it recognition, indirectly hinting this could be the reason for the players and others connected with ICL wishing to return to the official fold.
The Nagpur-based lawyer said, "They have admitted they made a mistake and we have decided to give them a chance."
He also declared that as a measure of punishment for associating themselves with the rebel body those ex-players, whose monthly gratis was not paid to them during their association with the ICL, would not be paid this amount even after they severe the ties.
He added "They will not be compensated. They will have to face some punishment and will not get the unpaid amount."
The list of ex-players whose monthly gratis was stopped by the BCCI includes current ICL Executive Director Kapil Dev and the amount works to Rs 35,000 per month.
The rebel ICL series was announced by Essel Group Chairman Subash Chandra soon after India`s dismal performance in the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies with the first edition of the event held in October that year.
(Posted on : 30/04/2009)
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| BCCI lifts ban on ICL players on Wednesday |
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