Cricket: India threatens ban over new league

NEW DELHI - Indian players joining the unofficial Twenty20 Indian Cricket League (ICL) this year will be banned from international cricket for life, Indian cricket board secretary Niranjan Shan said on Saturday (NZ time).

"Players who take part in the ICL will never be eligible to play for the country again. It is up to the players to decide what they want to do," Shan told the Press Trust of India news agency.

He said players who signed for the ICL would also be barred from playing in domestic tournaments.

The league organisers have signed up recently retired West Indies skipper Brian Lara and also hope to lure Australians Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne out of retirement.

The Pakistan board has backed India by barring its players from joining the ICL.

- REUTERS