ICL Information

Shane Bond contract to play for English county Hampshire this season has been called into question because of the player’s links with the ‘rebel’ Indian Cricket League (ICL) after officials warned it would be taken into account when assessing his registration.

Former New Zealand quick Bond, 32, signed by Hampshire as early-season cover for Shane Warne, and Pakistan’s Rana Naved, due to play for Yorkshire, featured in November’s inaugural ICL.

But the ICL is opposed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which has organised its own Twenty20 event, the Indian Premier League (IPL), due to get underway in April.

Unlike the ICL, the IPL has International Cricket Council (ICC) backing, with many of the world’s top players signed up on highly lucrative contracts.

Bond took part in the inaugural ICL in November after it offered him the kind of financial security he could only dream about as a New Zealand player.

In October the ICC ruled no contracted international player could be released for the rebel league, effectively ending Bond’s New Zealand career, and ruling the injury-prone fast bowler out of his country’s forthcoming tour of England.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), following a “a full report on the impact and threat of unauthorised events to the infrastructure of the sport”, said in a statement here.

“The ECB board are determined to disassociate and distance itself from any promotor, agent or individual involved in such events.”

The statement added: “It was further noted that unqualified cricketers requiring a ‘no objection certificate’ to be registered for cricket in England and Wales are unlikely to receive such certificates from their home boards if they participate in unauthorised events.

Source: http://www.cricketnext.com