 Players
who were associated with the unsanctioned ICL and wanted a release from their
contracts were in for a major relief. The league in a statement made said that
it had decided to release 50 such cricketers who can then be eligible for selection
for their respective countries. Amongst those 50 named are Hemang Badani,
Deep Dasgupta from India, Shane Bond from New Zealand, Imran Nazir, Naved-ul-Hasan
from Pakistan and former Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar. The ICC had earlier
decided that if players were to disassociate themselves from the ICL, they
could be in contention for selection to their respective national sides once again,
albeit after undergoing a 'cooling period'. It was subsequently reported that
many cricketers had taken that opportunity and had applied for release from the
Subhash Chandra-owned Indian Cricket League or the ICL.
Himanshu Mody, the ICL's business head said that the decision was in line with
the league's thinking that cricketers and their future were their number 1 priority
and that they wished the players who were leaving all the best for their future.
He also dismissed suggestions that the exodus could weaken the league by saying
that instead the same will now be even more streamlined as only those players
would be involved who are 100% committed to playing in the league. Former Indian
stumper Deep Dasgupta welcomed the decision saying that he looks forward
to playing for India again. The ICL now intends to adopt a two-pronged approach;
start activities afresh by holding talent identification camps in the 6 grounds
that it controls in India and also to simultaneously pursue legally the ICC's
reluctance to grant it recognition.
In a different story, 34 year-old Andrew Symonds's chances of furthering his
Test career suffered a major setback as he was not named in the Australian 16-man
squad to take on England in the upcoming Ashes series. A day before
the team was to be named, his case received a thumbs-up from skipper Ricky Ponting
who hinted that the troubled allrounder needed to be given one more chance.
However, the selectors have instead placed their faith in younger allrounders
such as Shane Watson, Andrew McDonald and Marcus North.
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