Cricket-Player exodus leaves Indian rebel league on the brink

By N.Ananthanarayanan

NEW DELHI, May 20 (Reuters) - India's rebel Twenty20 league faced a bleak future on Wednesday with many players seeking to be released from their contracts to return to official cricket.

The Indian Cricket League (ICL), launched in 2007 by promoters of the nation's largest listed media group Zee Entertainment Network, was staunchly opposed by the Indian board which persuaded other countries to bar players who signed up.

It attracted players from New Zealand, Pakistan and Bangladesh, but was in trouble after the International Cricket Council (ICC) refused recognition and some national boards led by India offered to lift the bans if players quit the league.

The launch of the official Indian Premier League (IPL) last year had already overshadowed the rebel version.

"A few domestic and overseas players and support staff have approached us with applications to be released from ICL to pursue cricket with the state associations," the ICL executive board said in a statement on Wednesday.

"ICL has been set up for the development of cricket ... if certain players do wish to go back to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) fold we will not stop them nor would we ever wish to exercise contractual authority to stall their dreams.

"(The) ICL will continue to bring up and nurture younger talents for the future," it said.

Former Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar was among those who quit the ICL and Indian media reported that New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond also wants to leave.