Bangladesh lifts ban on ICL rebels

The Bangladesh Cricket Board Tuesday lifted its ban on players who had defected to the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), allowing them to rejoin domestic cricket.

"The board has withdrawn the ban against all 14 cricketers who joined the Indian Cricket League," board spokesman Rabeed Imam said.

"They are now free to play all forms of domestic cricket. They can also be considered for the national team provided they are fit and excel in the local leagues," he said.

The board said the ban was lifted after the players, including former captain Habibul Bashar and ace bowler Mohammad Rafique, resigned from the ICL and submitted their termination papers.

The board had offered the ICL players an amnesty last month, asking them to return to the official fold by June 15.

In September, the rebels were slapped with a 10-year ban for joining the ICL, which is not recognised by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The ICL's recruitment of the players, reportedly for contracts worth 200,000 dollars each, dealt a huge blow to cricket in Bangladesh, with the national side forced to recruit from academy and under-19 teams.

Last week, an under-strength Bangladesh crashed out of World Twenty20 in the first round after losing to India and non-Test nation Ireland.