Cricket South Africa to ban ICL recruits

Cricket South Africa has warned players joining the Indian Cricket League (ICL) that it will not only ban them from playing for South Africa but will also keep them out of domestic cricket.

"We view them as rebels," Gerald Majola, the CSA chief executive, told Beeld, an Afrikaans newspaper. "They have joined a breakaway organisation."

But Majola added that the players could return to South African cricket if they cancelled their contracts with the ICL. "Once they have played even one game in the ICL tournament, it's over and they will never be allowed to play in South Africa again."

Former internationals Nicky Boje and Lance Klusener have signed with the ICL and there are rumors that Andrew Hall, who quit international cricket last month and signed a three-year deal with Northamptonshire, could be also be joining the league.

CSA's decision follows that of New Zealand Cricket and the Indian board to ban players who joined the ICL. Apart from that, CSA, along with the boards of India, England and Australia had announced the launching of the Champions Twenty20 League to be played among the top domestic sides starting October 2008.