Do you think the "life ban" on Pakistani players participating in ICL will be upheld?

[GQ]

I seriously doubt that it will be, considering the history of such claims and many others by the Pakistan Cricket Board. The players who participated in the Kerry Packer Series were banned for a little while but made their way back in the team thereafter. Similarly, the bans on Shoaib and Asif were imposed by the Board and they were removed later.

Personally, I think the money offered by ICL is very lucrative but the games themselves will not be. Although there will be some world class players present, it will be nothing like the Kerry Packer Series that involved top cricketers of that time from around the world, except India, I think.

What do you think?

[Sultan Yusuf]

It's about player power and who the ICL manages to recruit. If enough big stars all over the world go over, then the national boards will have no option but to lift the bans. Case in point the packer series....

However, I doubt the ICL has the pull of the packer series. For the time being at least - the boards have some control and the players have to be careful.

However, the ICC and national boards have a habit of turning advantageous situations in to complex ones. Look at how people like Kallis and Yousuf have been treated - we're not talking about mickey mouse cricketers like Razzak, we're talking about serious performers who are the best performers in the world - surely they deserve a choice in the matter? It's stuff like this which may lure the bigger names to go for the ICL.

[Hash]

I seriously doubt that it will be, considering the history of such claims and many others by the Pakistan Cricket Board

History like what? When have the PCB, in the past, threatened to ban a player for life and then not done so despite him not heeding to their warnings? This has not happened before......the PCB set up was entirely different during the Packer Series, it wasn't even the PCB back then. It was the BCCP.


The players who participated in the Kerry Packer Series were banned for a little while but made their way back in the team thereafter

The Packer Series is different because it attracted a host of international superstars. As Naved said, the ICL does not have the same pull nor does it have the same standing. At best it is going to be a veterans series with a handful of fringe international rejects like Imran Farhat.


Similarly, the bans on Shoaib and Asif were imposed by the Board and they were removed later.

Not similar at all. In fact, this issue is completely different. Shoaib and Asif were acquitted.

Personally, I think the money offered by ICL is very lucrative but the games themselves will not be. Although there will be some world class players present, it will be nothing like the Kerry Packer Series that involved top cricketers of that time from around the world, except India, I think.

Agree.........the ICL, as I have already said, will AT BEST be a veterans series (ie....Lara, McGrath, Warne, Attapatu, maybe Inzi) with a handful of rejects. No current high profile cricketer will join........the stakes are simply too high. I don't see it lasting more than 2 or 3 years.

[shikari]

ICL on surface looks good but it lacks content, sort of a business plan. There is no long term vision for ICL on how it will be able to generate revenue. The sponsors will drop in a heartbeat if it does not generate enough revenue for them. The players who are signing up for them will eventually be the losers, and I mean players like Farhat etc. Players like Lara, Mgrath have nothing to lose if ICL clicks or not.

[waqar_ahmad]

To add to what Hash said, ICL is a 20 20 league. The big stars cant show their truw worth in this format. I think people wil realize this, and the players will realize this too. the ICL does nto have the same pull as Pecker's league.

[kablooee87]

The likes of Farhat will be hoping players go Yousuf's caliber join ICL. That's the only way he's getting back in.

[Plasma]

Well at that time, some of the biggest stars of Pakistan Cricket went over there including Imran. And they came back because the public protested and stufff, to get them back in the side. But who is gona do that for Farhat?

[Disco_Lemonade]

Well at that time, some of the biggest stars of Pakistan Cricket went over there including Imran. And they came back because the public protested and stufff, to get them back in the side. But who is gona do that for Farhat?
his father in law?? :)

[12thMan]

Kerry Packer and ICL are a little different. Some have mentioned that Kerry Packer got the top players but it was a different era too. The pay was very little that Pakistani players got and Packer offered them a lot more, the media was not widely available (internet, bunch of channels etc), there were hardly any news about players or PCB on PTV (the only TV channel) so it was not a big deal (as I saw it). There were some problems when the players came back to play for Pakistan and I think it was a series with England and they had agreed not to include any players who had gone to Packer in that series. Plus Wasim Raja may have had some issue as his place was in danger.

A big difference was Packer got them fancy uniforms, a lot more cameras, Day night matches etc and it had the entertaintment value as it was different and eventually changed cricket. What is the big change here as in something new or different?

[Plasma]

his father in law?? :)
lol, a 7 hour hunger strike this time?? :)) :)))

[deviously~fading~away]

To add to what Hash said, ICL is a 20 20 league. The big stars cant show their truw worth in this format. I think people wil realize this, and the players will realize this too. the ICL does nto have the same pull as Pecker's league.
According to ICL the tournament will change into an One day game depending on its success

[hellopak]

I think PCB should get a life and don't make arbitrary decisions on its own. They should rather wait for ICC and take same stand as other countries boards will take. Whatever decision they want to take, it should be unanimous decison of ICC members not one or two countries.

[SUPERSAMI]

Whether the bans are upheld or not, Farhat is finished with Pak. ICL I salute you!

[Saqlain_doosra]

Why can't ICL be treated as dmoestic 2020 competition? I think soon as Indian Board strikes deal with them all the players will be allowed to play in the league

[Daoud]

It depends on the quality but also the quantity of players signing up. Certainly right now, neither is really worrying for the PCB

[12thMan]

Why can't ICL be treated as dmoestic 2020 competition? I think soon as Indian Board strikes deal with them all the players will be allowed to play in the league
There is a monolply and the companies will not like to share the money. Plus I think Zee is doing this because they didn't like getting snubbed by BCCI for some series broadcasting contract. Is it different than Sanford in WI? probably not even if Stanford says he wants to promote circket in WI. ICC is taking some note of it this year but didn't say much last year. And the cheif ICL guy Kapil Dev says that they want to promote cricket too and give young people and oppurtunity to play with some experienced players and learn. There are only supposed to be maybe 2-3 professional players in a team and the rest are all domestic

[Indiafan]

Looks like BCCI has relaxed its stand with Hyderabadi state players joining ICL. news reports say that BCCI will NOT ban players joining ICL. On the other hand they might not have much chance getting into the national team even if they are not banned as there would be a definite prejudice against them

[waqar_ahmad]

Any player not under contract should be allowed to whatever he wants. this PCB bullshittt about life bans is just stupid. They have no right to stop a player from playing in any league if doiesnt conflict with the national duties. the players should get together and screw the PCB