By IANS,
Mumbai : The Indian cricket board Wednesday threw a life-line to the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) players, setting a deadline of May 31 for cricketers to sever all ties with the league following which they will be immediately eligible for domestic cricket.
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Shashank Manohar told reporters here that after returning to official cricket the players will be also eligible for national selection but only after a year.
The decision was taken in the BCCI’s working committee meeting here at the Cricket Centre in Wankhede Stadium.
“The BCCI has taken a decision to grant amnesty to players who have been associated with the ICL. They have been given time till May 31 during which they need to sever all ties with the ICL and come back to the BCCI and inform the board,” Manohar said.
Other national boards, who had banned ICL players, are also expected to toe the same line.
“We have taken a further decision on those players and the support staff of the ICL that they will not be able to play international cricket or given international assignments for a period of one year from the date they sever their allegiance with the ICL,” Manohar said.
Manohar said that the decision was taken after several ICL players and support staff admitted that they made a wrong move by signing up with the ICL.
“A lot of cricketers and support staff with the ICL met us and informed us that it was a mistake committed by them in joining the ICL and they want to return to the BCCI. They will be allowed to play domestic cricket immediately,” he said.