New Zealand's ICL rebels eligible for national team

New Zealand cricketers who joined the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) will be eligible for national selection if they sever all ties with the competition, officials said today.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said the rebel players would be eligible for selection for New Zealand's tour to Sri Lanka and a New Zealand A tour to India, both starting in August, if they cut their ICL ties.

Of the nine players who joined the ICL, most had already retired or been dropped from the national team, and Vaughan acknowledged that fast bowlers Shane Bond and Daryl Tuffey were the most likely to play again for New Zealand.

"We understand both of these players wish to return to international cricket - which is great news for cricket in New Zealand," Vaughan said.

Bond's career with New Zealand has been regularly interrupted by injury, playing only 17 Tests since his debut in late 2001, but in those matches he took an impressive 79 wickets at an average of 22.39.

The 33-year-old is nearing the end of his career but would be welcomed back by a team thin on penetrating fast bowlers.

Pakistan, South Africa and Bangladesh have cleared the way for the return of rebel players into their national teams.

This week Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said its ICL players would be eligible for the national team after a year.

But Vaughan said New Zealand suffered from the loss of players to the ICL and by August it would have been almost a year since the rebel players had played for the ICL.

"Taking all these factors into account the board felt there was little justification for a further stand-down period," he said.

The other New Zealand players who joined the ICL were Hamish Marshall, Lou Vincent, Andre Adams, Chris Cairns, Craig McMillan, Chris Harris and Adam Parore.

The ICL organised two tournaments last year, but their next competition in March was cut short due to security concerns following last year's Mumbai attacks.

ICL players were banned from official cricket around the world following pressure from the powerful BCCI, which organised its own Twenty/20 competition, the Indian Premier League.