Lured by ICL, Imran Farhat asks release from PCB contract

Lahore, Aug 16 (UNI) Lured by the lucrative offer from the fledging Indian Cricket League (ICL), Pakistan Test discard Imran Farhat has requested Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to release him from the central contract.

The left-handed batsman signed the contract with PCB earlier this month but after receiving a lucrative offer from ICL has decided to terminate his contract with the board.

PCB's Director of Communications Ahsan Hameed Malik confirmed Farhat's request.

''We have received an application from Imran Farhat in which he has asked us to terminate his central contract.

''It is a player's right to make such a request and we have decided to release him,'' Malik was quoted as saying by the 'The News'.

PCB has earlier said any player opting to sign up with the parallel league will not be allowed to play for Pakistan again.

The Board awarded central contracts to 20 of its leading cricketers and also offered retainerships to several others this summer, after reports in the media highlighted that ICL was scouting after Pakistani players with a huge war chest.

According to reports in the Pakistani media, other two top Pakistani cricketers Mohammad Yousuf and Abdul Razzaq have also signed contracts with ICL for ''tempting amounts''.

UNI