3 November 2008

Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf has signed to play in the Indian Cricket League, despite being picked in Pakistan's squad to face West Indies later this month.

"He didn't tell us he was going to India. We heard about it ourselves two hours back. We called up his home and his wife has confirmed he has gone to India to play in the ICL," Pakistan Cricket Board operations director Zakir Khan told a news conference.

Zakir confirmed that Yousuf will be banned from all cricket in Pakistan if he goes to play in the league, which does not have official status.

The ICL filed a legal case against Yousuf with an arbitrator in Mumbai for breach of contract after he first signed for them in August, 2007 and then returned his advance payment and decided to get a contract in the officially approved Indian Premier League. The case is still pending.

Yousuf is likely to join the Lahore Badshahs, the team made up entirely of Pakistan players.

© Cricket World / Reuters 2008

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