ICL's push for recognition

Legal action might be the only option - Kapil

New innovations at ICL? Kapil Dev said the umpire review system, which the ICC is now trialling, was started by the ICL. They also have some more innovations in the pipeline. "We also plan to award nine runs for a 90-yard hit," he said. "And we are thinking about abolishing overthrows if there is a direct hit while going for a run-out."

Kapil Dev, the ICL chairman, has said taking legal action would be the only option left if the ICC doesn't respond to the league's bid for official recognition at its next board meeting, possibly in November. The ICL had issued a letter to the ICC to convene a board meeting after the talks with the BCCI failed.

"I think we are on very good ground as far as a legal case goes," Kapil said. "Eventually we will do that [take legal action]. "We are not the ones who are enforcing bans on players or umpires."

Subhash Chandra, chairman of the Essel Group, which owns the ICL, and Himanshu Mody, the league's business head, had met BCCI president Shashank Manohar and N Srinivasan, the board's secretary, in New Delhi but the talks barely lasted 15-20 minutes and they failed to arrive at a common ground.

Manohar met officials of the ICL for the first time since the league was set up in April 2007 after its request for recognition came up for discussion at the ICC board meeting in Dubai earlier this month. It was decided at that meeting that Manohar would provide a written report to the ICC board "in due course" after discussions with the ICL.

Kapil said he was unhappy with the way the talks were conducted. "I wasn't there but I believe they said 'you shut down the ICL then we will talk'. There is no point in talking after that. We will now wait for 21 days to decide our future plan of action."

Shabbir was among the original list of 16 players who signed up with the ICL in 2007 and since then the board has placed a complete ban on these players to take part in any cricket activity in Pakistan.

Shabbir showed up at the academy on Thursday and had a long bowling session at the nets. "I am preparing for the start of the new ICL season this year and so far no one has told me not to practice here," he said.

"There was never any ban on Shabbir Ahmed to practice ... he is only banned from representing Pakistan in Tests and ODIs and from first class cricket," a senior board official explained.

"He is a Pakistani and we have no objection in his practicing at NCA," Shafqat Naghmi the chief operating officer said.

But he made it clear that this should not be seen as the board deciding to reconsider its stance on ICL players.

"Any player who has represented Pakistan can practice here but that does not mean we are thinking about changing our policy on the ICL. It remains the same when the ICC recognises it we will also adopt a softer line," he stated.

Shabbir, whose bowling action has always under the scanner, hoped the board would allow them to play the domestic season starting October.

"Right now I am here to train and get tips from Aaqib Javed and Geoff Lawson who are at the academy," he stated.

Sources in the Pakistan Cricket Board have confirmed that March is the deadline for confirming the venue of the tournament which was to be held in Pakistan from September 12 but has been postponed due to the security concerns raised by some teams.

"The ICC is having a meeting on September 11 and 12 to decide the best dates for the tournament when it is held next year. But the final decision on whether it will remain in Pakistan will be taken in March," one source said.

He said in case some countries still refuse to play in Pakistan next year, the ICC will relocate it but Pakistan would get compensation of USD three million which is the hosting fees for the event.

"The ICC member countries have basically decided to wait and see if the situation changes in Pakistan in the next six months and if this happens then the Champions Trophy would remain with us," the source said.

The ICC has also asked its member countries to send in suggestions for making slight changes in the Future Tours Program to accommodate new dates for the eight-nation tournament.

"There will be some changes in the FTP as the Champions Trophy where ever it is held will take three weeks for which all teams must be available," the source said.

He confirmed that the ICC Executive Board teleconference in which it was decided to postpone the Champions Trophy some members had pushed for the ICC to announce a new venue the same day.

"But we and India threatened to boycott the event if any hasty decision was made after which it was decided to adopt a wait and see policy until next march.

"The Indian team's tour to Pakistan from early January will be used to make assessments about the security situation in Pakistan," he stated.