An American entrepreneur who hopes to establish an international Twenty20 tournament in New York has signed up former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and six other Pakistan players for his project scheduled to be launched later this year.
Inzamam said on Monday that he along with six other players who have been playing for the unofficial Indian Premier League have signed up for the proposed American league.
"Myself, Rana Naved, Abdul Razzaq, Imran Nazir, Imran Farhat, Azhar Mahmood and Saqlain Mushtaq have agreed to play in this league when it is launched in New York," Inzamam said.
The former captain didn't elaborate if he had got clearance from the ICL organisers for the American league as the ICL claims it still has valid contracts with the Pakistani cricketers even though its league has been delayed this year.
Inzamam said he had got the offer from the President and CEO of American Sports And Entertainment Group Inc, Jay Mir, who has drawn up plans for a six-team American Premier League to be staged in October on a converted baseball field in Staten Island, New York.
Inzamam said the players were keen to play in the American league as it was a new concept and new venue and it would be exciting to play in America.
Sources said Inzamam and the other players had got the approval of the ICL before signing up.
The sources said that Mir was also looking forward to signing on other Pakistani players including pace bowler, Mohammad Asif who will complete a one-year ban for a failed dope test in September.
Inzamam said the American league was not an official tournament because it is not ICC-recommended.
"But the organisers say they are hoping to get clearance from the ICC for the event," he added.
The 32-year-old businessman Mir has lined up a three-year staging deal with the minor-league baseball team, Staten Island Yankees.
Using a franchise and auction system similar to the IPL, he hopes to draw up six "international" sides - Premium Pakistan, Premium Indians, Premium West Indies, Premium World and Premium America - the final side drawn from the best of the talent on show from approximately 15 million cricket fans who already live in the USA.
A spokesman for the Yankees confirmed that they were in talks, adding that they were "very excited" at the prospect of bringing cricket to the city.
