Return ticket for ICL players

For 18 months,the BCCI took its objection to the Indian Cricket League ICL to almost obsessive levels....

For 18 months,the BCCI took its objection to the Indian Cricket League ICL to almost obsessive levels. On Wednesday,however,it may have pulled the carpet from under the rebel leagues feet by announcing a one-time-only opportunity for ICL players to get back to official cricket.

These players,barred from any official matches in any part of the world,have been offered an amnesty period,and will be allowed to return to the fold if they cut all ties with the ICL by May 31,the BCCI announced after a working committee meeting in Mumbai. They can play international cricket after a cooling period of one year but can play domestic matches as early as June 1,2009.

The BCCI has decided to grant amnesty to those who have joined ICL. It was a mistake that they committed,and theyve admitted it. So we have decided to give them a chance, BCCI president Shashank Manohar said. A lot of cricketers and support-staff members in the ICL met us and told us that they had made a mistake by joining the ICL. They said they wanted to return. I cant reveal numbers but many met us, he added.

The International Cricket Council ICC had rejected ICLs plea of granting them official status,putting the leagues future in jeopardy.

Interestingly,most of the officials attending Wednesdays meeting later said that they had learnt about the move at the meeting itself. We were not informed that the board will take such a decision. It was only during the meeting that the president and secretary told us. We all agreed on it, said a member.

The ICLs response was even more curious,with its business head Himanshu Mody giving a green signal to all those who wanted to leave. Taking forward its Sports Performance Evaluation process across all cricket operations,the ICL management has decided not to renew the contracts of some of the ICL players and support staff that have expired. As cricket professionals,they can and are free to decide and explore their options, Mody said in a statement.

Free to go: Kapil

The ICL chairman Kapil Dev told The Indian Express: We would not like to hamper the players careers. It is their will if they want to end their alliance with ICL. We will not impose anything.

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The Indian Express learnt that Mumbai Champs coach Sandeep Patil,Chennai Superstars coach Karsan Ghavri,and Balwinder Sandhu,who coached Delhi Jets,have already written to the ICL about their intention of leaving .

Meanwhile,the BCCI stressed that no rethinks would be entertained after May 31. They plays and officials have been given time until May 31,during which they need to sever all ties with the ICL. They have to serve a one-year cooling period before they will be allowed to play international games. Till then they can play domestic cricket, Manohar said.

The decision has opened the doors for several players both current and former to return to the BCCI fold. In the case of former India players,Manohar said that pension money they have lost as a result of their association with the ICL will not be reimbursed. Even if any former players or officials return,they will not be compensated. They will have to face some punishment.