India grants amnesty to rebel cricketers

India’s cricket chiefs on Wednesday said players signed up with an unauthorised Twenty20 league would be allowed to play in official matches if they severed links with the rebel body.

Local players with the Indian Cricket League (ICL) can play domestic first-class matches if they end their rebel contracts by May 31, but must wait for a year to be eligible for international cricket, officials said.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Shashank Manohar said the decision was taken after some ICL players “admitted they made a mistake in joining the rebel league.”

“We have decided to grant amnesty to ICL players and welcome them to return to the BCCI fold,” Manohar told reporters after a meeting of the BCCI’s working committee here.

MUMBAI, AFP