Goodwin quits ICL to commit to Sussex

Former Zimbabwe batsman Murray Goodwin has cut ties with the ICL in order to commit himself solely for county duty with Sussex. Goodwin, who has plied his trade across the world, with his most success coming at Sussex, felt it was time to commit to official cricket.

"It's been a busy year with the benefit year [2009, with Sussex] going on, but a very enjoyable one," said Goodwin. "It's the right move to resign my ICL contract and I want to give Sussex every opportunity of progressing as far as we can in cricket."

Goodwin played eight matches for the Ahmedabad Rockets in the last season of the unofficial ICL. He top-scored with 270 runs at 45.00 with four half-centuries.

Counties with ICL-contracted players have been banned from playing in the Champions League should they qualify by winning their national competition. If Sussex qualify for the lucrative Twenty20 tournament, set to start in October, Goowin will not be allowed to participate. He will be eligible to play in the competition in 2010.

Goodwin played 19 Tests between 1998 and 2000 and was one of the first in the country to turn his back on international cricket.