Arnald Konwar quits ICL

Arnald Konwar, the Assam offspinner who had signed up for the Indian Cricket League (ICL), has announced his return to the fold of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

"I had signed up for Rs 60 lakh for two years with the ICL hoping to get a chance to play alongside greats like Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath," Konwar told reporters in Guwahati. "But since they had not joined, I decided to return."

Konwar and five other players from the state had joined the ICL alleging that they were not given a chance by the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) to play at the national level. Konwar claimed that it was not the money that had lured him into the league, but a genuine intention of playing alongside cricketing greats. Both Warne and McGrath have instead signed up for the Indian Premier League (IPL), launched by the BCCI.

Konwar alleged that the ICL itinerary was yet to be fixed and even the grounds had not been finalised. "One cannot continue in such uncertainty," he said.

Bikash Baruah, ACA secretary, denied the allegations of the other five players that they were patronised by the body when it came to selection for national-level tournaments. He said they were denied opportunities due to below-par performances.