Uncertainty surrounds ICL signings

Confusion continues to surround county players who have signed with the unauthorised Indian Cricket League. Last week the ECB made clear that overseas players who had signed would not be eligible to play this season, but the actual situation remains clouded.

Yorkshire seem resigned to be without Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, who signed for the Pakistani Lahore Badshahs franchise, and Hampshire are still seeking clarification on the position relating to Shane Bond. Glamorgan are still hoping that Jason Gillespie will be joining them, and Sussex are pressing for a ruling on Mushtaq Ahmed.

Cricinfo understands that almost all the England players who have signed with the ICL will not be returning to India for the 2008-09 events, although it is not clear if that also applies to Paul Nixon. Further confusion comes with Kolpak players. While overseas players need approval from their home boards to play county cricket, that does not apply to Kolpaks and so they are free to sign with the ICL and continue to play county cricket.

Two county captains - Dale Benkenstein (Durham) and Nicky Boje (Northamptonshire) - have signed with the ICL but are expected to play, but Nic Pothas, who was expected to replace Shane Warne as Hampshire's skipper, has been overlooked because of his ICL links. There is also confusion as to his status. While he was expected to be reclassified as an England-qualified player in 2008, the paperwork is not complete. Stuart Law, the Lancashire captain, is down to play in the ICL immediately before the county season starts.

Surrey are confident that Saqlain Mushtaq, signed from Sussex in the close season and now an England-qualified player, will be free to play for them.