ICL serves legal notice on Yousuf

The Indian Cricket League (ICL) has sent a legal notice to Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf for cancelling his contract. A top official with the ICL has said that action had to be taken after several unsuccessful attempts to get in touch with Yousuf to seek clarifications regarding certain statements made by him and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over the recent weeks.

"We can confirm that we have indeed sent out a notice to Yousuf," Ashish Kaul, executive president of the ICL, told Cricinfo. "We have been trying to reach out to him and sent out three reminders to discuss some crucial issues after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) clarified recently that Yousuf will not play in the ICL and make himself available for Pakistan."

Yousuf had reversed his decision to commit to the ICL following a meeting with PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf. With the board adopting a tough stance on all players who've signed up for the ICL, Yousuf signed a central contract with the PCB and made himself available for Pakistan. He subsequently signed up for the Indian Premier League (IPL), a franchise tournament launched by the Indian board which has already roped in several international stars.

Yousuf had explained his withdrawal from the ICL by stating that he wasn't aware of a certain clause which says that priority had to be given to the league instead of Pakistan when international matches are happening simultaneously. Responding to this, Kaul said that there was no such clause, and that if a clash of dates were to occur, the ICL would have accomodated it. Kaul said that efforts had been made to get in touch with Yousuf and clarify such comments.

The inaugural season of the ICL - a Twenty20 tournament - is set to begin in November, though the schedule is yet to be announced. Players who've already signed up have undergone a beginner's camp in Chennai and an advanced camp is set to begin as well.

"We are likely to announce the schedule, details of the teams and the team colours in a week's time," Kaul said. "The details of the venue of the advanced camp will be announced soon as well."

Kaul added that no new players have signed up over recent weeks, and denied reports that New Zealand's Craig McMillan was one of those approached.