After Warne, McGrath, Fleming, ICL now turns to Inzy

Lahore, July 29 (UNI) Snubbed from the newly-released contract list, Inzamam-ul Haq now may switch loyalities, with the breakaway Indian Cricket League (ICL) approaching the former Pakistan skipper.

Inzamam becomes the latest international star to have been approached after the ICL signed up Brian Lara as its first major signing.

The former captain, who announced his retirement from one-day cricket after Pakistan's disastrous World Cup campaign, confirmed that ICL officials had contacted him.

''They have been in touch with me and I am considering their offer,'' Inzamam said.

''If the terms are right, I will play,'' he added.

The PCB recently announced that their centrally contracted players would not be allowed to join the private league but kept the door open for former internationals or players who were not in contract with the board.

Incidentally, Inzamam was dropped from the contracted list.

The players it has targeted so far, however, are those who have retired from international cricket in one form or another.

Lara has already signed on, while Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Stephen Fleming has shown interest in the proposed league.

The 37-year-old Pakistani batsman said he believed the league would ultimately work to Indians' advantage.

''What harm is there if it means that more people will watch cricket, come to the grounds and watch stars in action? It furthers the profile of cricket,'' he opined.

According to Inzamam, ultimately it boils down to the financial benefit to the players.

''Players who are out of favour, or not international cricketers, or who are nearing the end of their careers will rightly see this as an opportunity to benefit financially and I don't see anything wrong with that,'' he told Cricinfo.

''For younger players too, there are rewards. Playing alongside players such as Lara or McGrath can only be a good thing for your development as a young player.'' Though Inzamam's own international career is hanging at uncertainity, he has made it clear that he wants to carry on playing Test cricket ''for as long as he felt he is performing''.

Interestingly, Inzamam who is currently lying only 19 runs short of Pakistan's leading Test run scorer Javed Miandad, clarified his stance behind his desire to continue playing test cricket saying he wants to achieve the 'magical' 10,000 test runs mark.

''I want to pass 10,000 Test runs and I believe I am capable of doing that, given the opportunity,'' he said.

UNI