Cricket: ICL sanctions overturned

A high court in Pakistan has lifted the ban on players who decided to join the 'rebel' Indian Cricket League.

A ruling that banned ICL players from domestic cricket and representing the national team was passed when the league was formed in 2007.

However, the Sindh High Court overturned the ruling on Monday.

"The honourable court has suspended this relevant clause of the PCB rules and allowed the players to appear in domestic cricket with immediate effect," said the suspended players' lawyer, Zahid Ibrahim.
Appeal

"The court has directed the PCB to file its reply on February 10 when the next date of hearing is set."

The chief operating officer of the PCB, Saleem Altaf, revealed an appeal is being readied but in the meantime they will comply with the court's ruling

"We have no objections to the players appearing in domestic cricket as per court orders but our lawyers will be preparing their appeal," he said.

Players affected by the ban include former national captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq, Rana Naved, Imran Nazir, Mohammad Sami, Taufeeq Umar and Azhar Mahmood.

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