PCB banned Yousuf for joining ICL

Karachi, Nov 5 (IANS) Hours after Pakistani batsman Mohammad Yousuf joined the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) in Delhi, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) banned him from playing for the country and is preparing to sue him.Zakir Khan, PCB’s Director of Cricket Operations, said Wednesday that the board has terminated the central contract of the 34-year-old player and will soon be sending a legal notice to Yousuf, asking him to pay up the money spent by the PCB over his legal battle with the ICL.

“Our policy towards the ICL is clear. Any players signing up with the league will be banned from playing for Pakistan and Yousuf is no exception,” Zakir told IANS.

Yousuf joined the ICL last year after being overlooked by Pakistan for the inaugural World Twenty20 Championship in South Africa in September. But former PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf persuaded him to quit ICL and instead sign up a deal with the official Indian Premier League (IPL).

But the ICL sued Yousuf over the u-turn and it was the PCB that fought the player’s case.

However, Yousuf has again fallen out with the PCB and rejoined ICL.

Zakir Khan said the board has spent a substantial amount on Yousuf’s tiff with the ICL and now the batsman will have to pay up that amount or face the consequences.

He refrained from giving any details about the amount, but it is understood that the PCB spent millions of rupees hiring a top lawyer to fight Yousuf’s case.