Pakistani team not disturbed by teammates joining ICL

The joining of four Pakistani players with the Indian Cricket League (ICL) has not disturbed their teammates, who are currently preparing for next months Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa.

Karachi, Aug 25 : The joining of four Pakistani players with the Indian Cricket League (ICL) has not disturbed their teammates, who are currently preparing for next month's Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa.

The players have moved on after initially getting excited about all the happenings related to the rebel ICL, said Pakistan team manager Talat Ali.

"Anybody in the Pakistan camp even talks about the league anymore," he added.

"The ICL could have been an issue for my players may be till a few days back, but now, nobody even talks about it. It is already history for them," said Ali.

Ali is confident that none of his other players would follow suit.

"The players who wanted to go have gone, and I'm sure they will be the only ones from Pakistan to take that option," he said.

Ali said that his players are now totally focused on the T20 World Cup to be held in South Africa from September 11-24.

Four of Pakistani Test players, including former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and main batsman Mohammad Yousuf, defied the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) by signing up for the breakaway ICL in spite of warnings from the board.

Experienced all-rounder Abdul Razzaq and discarded Test opener Imran Farhat were the other two players to have joined the ICL by signing lucrative deals, The News reported.

Three more Pakistani players -- Younis Khan, present skipper Shoaib Malik and pace star Shoaib Akhtar - were also contacted by ICL organisers, but they turned down the offers.

ANI