Yousuf dumped ICL joins IPL

Prolific batsman Mohammad Yousuf only agreed to make himself available for the Pakistan team once he was assured of financial compensation for cancelling his deal with the Indian Cricket League.

"Yousuf made it clear that he had signed up with the ICL as he was insecure about his future as a Pakistan cricketer and he was getting paid good money by the ICL," a source close to him said.

It was only reluctantly that Yousuf agreed to meet with the Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Nasim Ashraf last month.

"It was only after the Board Chairman assured him he would be compensated for leaving the ICL contract and also promised him a better contract to play in the Indian Premier League that Yousuf agreed to make himself available for Pakistan," the source said.

Yousuf reportedly had signed a contract worth USD 250,000 with the ICL for their first season with the league due to start in November this year.

"The position now is that Yousuf will be compensated for the money he lost due to breaking away from the ICL and also be paid for playing in the IPL," the source said.

The Board, earlier this month, awarded Yousuf USD 100,000 for being a category A contracted player and more money for winning the ICC Test batsman of the Year award.

The source also said that even former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq had agreed to announce his retirement after the ongoing second Test in Lahore on being assured a handsome compensation package by the Board.

Interestingly, Yousuf had earlier signed the contract for the rebel ICL which has not been recognised by the International Cricket Council and its member Boards.

The prolific Pakistani batsman changed his mind after a meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf which made him eligible to play for Pakistan again.

Chairman and Commissioner of IPL, Lalit Modi said, "We had made a promise to the cricket loving masses of India for some truly international class high-octane action through the Twenty20 format in the IPL".