ICC rejects ZEE’s plea to recognise ICL

The International Cricket Council have rejected the ZEE owned Indian Cricket League’s (ICL) application for approved unofficial status.

The decision, made at Saturday’s ICC Board meeting in Dubai, leaves the futures of those players signed by the league in the hands of individual board members, although the ICC suggested that players should not be allowed to move between official and unofficial cricket at will.

The ICL was set up as a competitor to the Indian board’s own Indian Premier League, which is in itself a contravention of the ICC’s criteria for approval.

“The Board gave the matter careful consideration but, looking at the criteria set out in the regulations, felt the application for approval could not be granted,” said ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat.

The ICL has yet to respond to the news but did earlier say it would take legal action if it did not receive approval.