Karachi, Jan 4  : Former Pakistan cricket captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for banning Pakistani cricketers, who are playing in the Indian Cricket League (ICL).

He said playing in the ICL is not a crime and added that the PCB has no legal authority to ban the ‘rebel’ cricketers from playing in domestic tournaments, the Dawn reported.

Inzamam said nothing can prevent the players from representing their respective departments in Pakistan’s domestic cricket.

He urged the departments to reject the PCB diktat, and allow the players to participate in domestic tournaments.

Acknowledging that the board could take action against players having contracts with it, Inzamam said neither he, nor Imran Farhat, Shabbir Ahmed, Azhar Mahmood or Abdul Razzaq are contracted to them.

"So how can they stop us from playing domestic cricket," he asked.

If needed, Inzamam said, he would move the court to plead the case of the rebel players.

He went on to say that the way PCB was behaving, some more Pakistani players might sign up for the ICL out of frustration and anger. (ANI)