Rafique expresses interest in ICL

Mohammad Rafique, the Bangladesh left-arm spinner, has expressed an interest in joining the Indian Cricket League (ICL) but only after he has taken 100 wickets in Test cricket. Rafique, who is Bangladesh's leading wicket-taker, is currently six short of the landmark.

"I've got an offer to play in the ICL through Mohammad Yousuf of Pakistan," Rafique told agencies. "He [Yousuf] asked me to call back if I am really interested." Yousuf signed with the ICL last month after he was excluded from Pakistan's World Twenty squad.

Rafique, 37, was left out of Bangladesh's Twenty20 squad for South Africa. He had opted out of the ODIs against Sri Lanka prior to the tournament for family reasons. "I only have a few years left for my international career. Naturally it is time for me to think about my future," he said. No Bangladesh player, current or former, has yet signed up with the ICL.

Rafique made his debut for Bangladesh in 1995 and has played 125 ODIs and 31 Tests since then. He is also the only Bangladesh player to take over 100 ODI wickets.