Mumbai, Aug 3 (UNI) The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today issued a warning to all players, saying that if they aligned with Essel Group's Indian Cricket League (ICL), the Indian board would not hesitate from banning those players for life from playing for the country.
The BCCI directive has come with the rebel body stepping up its efforts to rope in star players.
The Board also said that players signing up for the break-away league will also be barred from taking part in all domestic tournaments.
''Our stand is very clear. Players who take part in the ICL will never be eligible to play for the country again. It is upto the players to decide what they want to do'', BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said here.
Asked whether the ban would also be applicable for young players who have not played for the country yet, Shah said ''it will be applicable for all players.'' The BCCI secretary also informed that a decision on Kapil Dev's fate as the Chairman of National Cricket Academy will be taken at its General Body meeting here on Aug 21.
Taking a potshot at the ICL, Shah said the BCCI was not worried by the development as the league would attract veteran players only.
ICL, a brainchild of Subhash Chandra-owned Essel Group, have already signed up former West Indian captain Brian Lara for the series and are said to have approached many other former and current stars from different countries.
A host of former Indian players including Kapil Dev, Kiran More, Sandeep Patil, Madan Lal and Balwinder Singh Sandhu have joined the rebel league in various capacities.
The ICL plans to hold its inaugural Twenty20 league over a period of 45 days starting in October, this year.
UNI
The BCCI directive has come with the rebel body stepping up its efforts to rope in star players.
The Board also said that players signing up for the break-away league will also be barred from taking part in all domestic tournaments.
''Our stand is very clear. Players who take part in the ICL will never be eligible to play for the country again. It is upto the players to decide what they want to do'', BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said here.
Asked whether the ban would also be applicable for young players who have not played for the country yet, Shah said ''it will be applicable for all players.'' The BCCI secretary also informed that a decision on Kapil Dev's fate as the Chairman of National Cricket Academy will be taken at its General Body meeting here on Aug 21.
Taking a potshot at the ICL, Shah said the BCCI was not worried by the development as the league would attract veteran players only.
ICL, a brainchild of Subhash Chandra-owned Essel Group, have already signed up former West Indian captain Brian Lara for the series and are said to have approached many other former and current stars from different countries.
A host of former Indian players including Kapil Dev, Kiran More, Sandeep Patil, Madan Lal and Balwinder Singh Sandhu have joined the rebel league in various capacities.
The ICL plans to hold its inaugural Twenty20 league over a period of 45 days starting in October, this year.
UNI
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