Pakistan cricket captain Malik, Younis Khan and Mohammad Asif sign up for IPL

Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik, middle-order batsman Younis Khan and fast bowler Mohammad Asif have signed up with the Indian Premier League alongwith New Zealands Brendon McCullum.

Karachi, Oct.19 : Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik, middle-order batsman Younis Khan and fast bowler Mohammad Asif have signed up with the Indian Premier League alongwith New Zealand's Brendon McCullum.

PL Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi said that so far 29 international players have signed up and more signings were expected in a week's time.

The IPL will start around April 16 after the completion of South Africa's tour of India, Modi said after the IPL's first governing council meeting in Mumbai on Thursday.

The BCCI Vice President said the tournament would run for 44 days with a total of 59 matches, including two semi finals and a final.

"Two matches will be held per day, at 5 and 8 p m, at different centres. The eight franchisee teams will have the option of playing with four foreign players on the ground but can sign up more if they want," Modi said.

"All the players have been approached individually by the IPL and the contracts negotiated. They have signed a three-year contract," said Modi.

He clarified that the running of the IPL would in no way impact the holding of tournaments like the Asia Cup scheduled to be held in Pakistan in April-May, 2008.

The meeting was chaired by Modi and was attended by BCCI chief Sharad Pawar, former Board president I S Bindra, two other vice presidents Chirayu Amin and Rajeev Shukla, Delhi and Districts Cricket Association chief Arun Jaitley and former India captains Sunil Manohar Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri, as part of the governing council.

ANI