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Pakistan's Saqlain Mushtaq has been ordered to remove stickers from his Test bat displaying the Ben Hollioake Fund because they are against cricket rules.

Surrey off-spinner Saqlain, 25, stuck the stickers on his bat in the first Test in Colombo against Australia to advertise the charity set up by Adam Hollioake in the wake of his younger brother's death earlier this year.

But International Cricket Council match referee Clive Lloyd ordered their removal for the second Test in Sharjah because they constituted advertising.

Both Saqlain and Adam Hollioake have foregone potential sponsorship deals with bat companies - worth o10,000-plus-a-year to each individual - in order to promote the charity, which raises money to help children with terminal illnesses.

However, ICC regulations state only bona fide bat manufacturers' can advertise on the top nine inches of the front and up to 50% of the area of the back of cricket bats used in international matches.

Surrey captain Hollioake appealed to the ICC over its stance but Saqlain will not be allowed to display the stickers for the third Test, which starts on Saturday.

"The rules and regulations are there and they are clear," said Hollioake.

"I just hoped that in this instance they could show some leniency to what is fundamentally a good cause."

Any logo or endorsement has to be cleared with ICC standard protocol.

The only current area of the bat available is a maximum six square inches on the back of the blade, made available within the last 12 months for players to maximise sponsorship earnings.

ICC spokesman Mark Harrison said: "We have had requests from other charities in the past and we have said the same to them - there are guidelines to be followed and we have to be consistent."

Now, the only potential option other than the expensive one of setting up a bat company in the charity's name, appears to be an appeal for support to the England and Wales Cricket Board.

If the ECB was to back the promotion of the Ben Hollioake Fund and gained support from other countries' boards, such as Pakistan, the ICC might make an exception. (BBC)

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