Nixon puts ICL ahead of county

The Leicestershire wicketkeeper, Paul Nixon, is set to rejoin the Indian Cricket League for a second season this month, putting his county future at risk.

The unsanctioned ICL is not officially recognised by the ICC and, as such, any county player who represents one of the teams risks severing their ties with the ECB. At worst, he could be banned from county cricket and Leicestershire might then be thrown out of the 2009 Champions League if they were to reach the tournament.

"I have spoken to the people who represented Andrew Hall, Johannes van der Wath and Nicky Boje. They all played in the ICL last year and were banned by the ECB before they won their cases. They've seen my contract and don't think the ECB can quash it," Nixon told the Leicester Mercury.

"As things stand now I would expect to be signing for Leicestershire again next year. I'm still desperate to play county cricket and captain Leicestershire. I learned a lot this year. There are some things that I would have done differently but that is how life is. It was a really good challenge and I want to do it again and get better and better."

Before the 2008 season, the ECB tried to ban five overseas ICL players from representing their counties, but they were overturned on appeal.

Nixon was one of a four former England players who took part in the first ICL season. The others were Darren Maddy, Chris Read and Vikram Solanki, but the ECB agreed that because their contracts had been signed prior to the legal wrangles that no retrospective action would be taken. This time, though, it will be different and Leicestershire have said they won't support Nixon in any legal fight.

"We have sought guidance from ECB and PCA and general view is that it could be high risk," David Smith, Leicestershire chief executive, told The Daily Telegraph. "As a club we are supportive of the ECB's stance on unauthorised cricket. We have told Paul that as a club we would not be prepared to take the matter to the High Court."