Yousuf says he's been released from ICL

Mohammad Yousuf has said he has obtained a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Indian Cricket League, which will pave the way for him to return to international cricket for Pakistan. The batsman said he had submitted the certificate to Wasim Bari, the Pakistan Cricket Board's human resources director.

"I have submitted an NOC from the Indian league and it's now up to the authorities to clear my way to play international cricket," Yousuf told AFP. "I have handed the letter over to the PCB and now wait for their reply as I desperately want to play for my country."

Bari said he had received a written confirmation from Yousuf. "We have to verify this letter and put it before the PCB chairman (Ijaz Butt)," he said.

Yousuf had met PCB officials Bari, Mohammad Naeem and Zakir Khan at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, last week and informed them of his resignation. After producing the resignation letter, the officials said they would act only after hearing the ICL's response to him quitting, though without specifying that an NOC was needed.

Yousuf had signed up with the ICL in 2007 but was lured out of the contract by the PCB administration of the day. However, legal wrangles denied him an IPL contract in 2008 and he rejoined the ICL in November. That virtually ended his career with Pakistan but the latest development, it is believed, could see him returning sooner rather than later. The PCB had stated that they would consider the return of the ICL players on a case-by-case basis.

His team-mate Abdul Razzaq also said he had quit the ICL.