Butcher: No ICL approach

Mark Butcher has denied being approached to join the breakaway Indian Cricket League.

Surrey captain speaks to deny report

The Surrey captain refuted a report in The Times on Thursday that claimed he had been approached to captain one of the sides taking part in the 'rebel' Twenty20 tournament later this year.

"I have had no contact from anyone involved within the ICL and I don't expect to either," he said.

"The first I heard of it was when I was driving to the ground this morning and the chief executive of Surrey (Paul Sheldon) phoned me to ask what it was all about.

"I am slightly disconcerted to see my name attached to something that I know nothing about.

"If I was to have received an invitation to play in the ICL, my first action would be to alert Surrey County Cricket Club and discuss possible outcomes with them."

Breakaway gathers pace

Butcher is the first England international to be linked with the ICL, although several big names from other countries have already signed up.

Pakistan quartet Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq and Imran Farhat, and 44 Indian state players including fringe internationals Dinesh Mongia and Deep Dasgupta are all believed to have agreed contracts.

That effectively ends their international careers as the Pakistan and Indian boards have stated that no players involved in the ICL will be considered for national team selection.

Real world

A spokesman for the England and Wales Cricket Board told The Times: "If county players sign, then that is the time we would look at the consequences. "Our position at the moment is just that the Indian board say the event is outside their remit. In the real world, with all the litigation, it would probably be very difficult to stop anybody from returning here."

Northamptonshire's South African all-rounder Lance Klusener is among the players to have already signed contracts with the ICL, while Klusener's team-mate Niall O'Brien and Warwickshire all-rounder Neil Carter are considering offers to join.