indianexpress.com :: Pak 'rebels' spurn PCB offer, say to remain in ICL

Pak 'rebels' spurn PCB offer, say to remain in ICL

Agencies

Posted online: Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 1831 hrs IST

Karachi, January 27:
Pakistani cricketers, who have played in the inaugural Indian Cricket League, have spurned the olive branch offered by the PCB to come to its fold by ditching the 'rebel' league.

Test discards Imran Farhat, Taufiq Umar and Shabbir Ahmed remained adamant and said they would not break their contracts with ICL despite PCB's assurance to lift the ban from appearing in domestic cricket if they promise not to play anymore in the Essel Group promoted league.

"No I can't do that. It is not the honourable thing to do. I took a decision to sign the contract and I will stand by it. We have legal avenues available to fight the PCB ban," Farhat said.

The former opening batsman denied that a petition filed by him and other players challenging PCB's ban has been dismissed by the court.

"There is no way they can stop us from playing domestic cricket. And they have been saying the court dismissed our petition but that is not true we withdrew the petition ourselves hoping the board would at its governing body lift the ban," he said.

Farhat, who had played 27 Tests for Pakistan, also ruled out seeking any help from the International Cricket Council, saying it could do nothing as it was an internal matter of the board.

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Pak 'rebels' spurn PCB offer, say to remain in ICL Agencies Posted online: Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 1831 hrs IST Karachi, January 27: Pakistani cricketers, who have played in the inaugural Indian Cricket League, have spurned the olive branch offered by the PCB to come to its fold by ditching the 'rebel' league. Test discards Imran Farhat, Taufiq Umar and Shabbir Ahmed remained adamant and said they would not break their contracts with ICL despite PCB's assurance to lift the ban from appearing in domestic cricket if they promise not to play anymore in the Essel Group promoted league. "No I can't do that. It is not the honourable thing to do. I took a decision to sign the contract and I will stand by it. We have legal avenues available to fight the PCB ban," Farhat said. The former opening batsman denied that a petition filed by him and other players challenging PCB's ban has been dismissed by the court. "There is no way they can stop us from playing domestic cricket. And they have been saying the court dismissed our petition but that is not true we withdrew the petition ourselves hoping the board would at its governing body lift the ban," he said. Farhat, who had played 27 Tests for Pakistan, also ruled out seeking any help from the International Cricket Council, saying it could do nothing as it was an internal matter of the board.