Two want ICL release
The ICL is set to lose most of its leading Indian players, including Deep Dasgupta and Abhishek Jhunjhunwala, with the unauthorised league believed to have received over 40 release requests from those who want to take up the BCCI's recent amnesty offer.
Dasgupta, the former India wicketkeeper, and Jhunjhunwala, who was line for an India call-up, confirmed their release requests to Cricinfo, and sources said that Ambati Rayudu, Hemang Badani, Rohan Gavaskar and Ibrahim Khaleel are also on that list.
The ICL had asked its players - around 85 Indians and 70 foreigners - and support staff to submit their release requests by today following the BCCI's amnesty offer on April 29. Madan Lal, the former India allrounder and coach, Balwinder Sandhu, Karsan Ghavri and Sandip Patil have already approached the ICL for a release.
It is not clear yet though about the position of ICL's foreign recruits though most are retired players and have nothing significant to look forward. The significant exceptions are most of them, except for New Zealand's Shane Bond and Daryl Tuffey, and Pakistani players Mohammad Yousuf, Imran Nazir, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Abdul Razzaq.
Dasgupta and Jhunjhunwala said they hoped to get their release letters on May 20, 11 days before the BCCI's amnesty deadline ends. The two statemates said that they look forward to representing Bengal in first class cricket and possibly get to play a role in the IPL next year.
"I still have two or three years of cricket left in me," Dasgupta told Cricinfo. "I am not sure what is happening with the ICL, and would love to play for Bengal now. The IPL is also a possibility but I don't want to jump the gun at this stage."
Jhunjhunwala said the other reason why he wanted to return to official cricket was his desire to play four-day cricket. "The ICL is confined largely to a Twenty20 format, and I am very eager to play the longer version. I have no complaints about the ICL though because they provided the best opportunities possible."
Dasgupta and Jhunjhunwala cited "the lack of cricket for the last six to seven months" as another factor. After their last November's programme was cut short due to the Mumbai attacks, the ICL cancelled their March schedule due to the recession and non-availability of Pakistan players.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has decided to give a three-month cooling period to its ICL contracted players before they can be accepted into the system, provided they cut off all ties with the unofficial Twenty20 league.
This decision was taken by the SLC's interim committee on Thursday. Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga said the verdict to allow the ICL contracted players to get back was taken with the intention of making full use of their experience in different capacities.
"We have followed the line taken by the Indian board but we have decided to reduce the cooling period to three months so that we can have these players back as quickly as possible," said Ranatunga.
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