The Board of Control for Cricket in India is planning to organise a high-profile Twenty20 league of its own to counter the challenge posed by the 'unofficial' Indian Cricket League.

The plan is still at a formative stage and it is learnt that the legendary Sunil Gavaskar [Images] will be asked to head the organising committee of the event, to be called 'Professional Cricket League'.

• ICL no match to Packer's WSC

"We have been working on something for sometime now, but we are not yet ready to announce anything right now. When we are ready we will let you know," BCCI vice-president and marketing committee chief Lalit Modi said on Thursday.

The proposal was not discussed at the BCCI's special General Body in Mumbai on Tuesday.

"There has been no discussion on this in the BCCI," a top source in the board said.

Although BCCI officials were not willing to shed much light on the new proposal, it is learnt that two or three foreign players will be allowed to play in each team.

Jolted by the rebel ICL's massive recruitment drive, the BCCI has not only decided to ban defecting players but also announced substantial hikes in match fees and prize-money for domestic competition to prevent a fresh exodus.

The ICL, the brainchild of the Subhash Chandra-owned Essel Group, has so far recruited 44 first class players and seven from overseas, including West Indies [Images] batting great Brian Lara [Images] and former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq.