Players from the rebel Indian Cricket League and some big names from the sport's past are to take part in an as yet unauthorized Twenty20 tournament in New York in October, the event organizer told Reuters on Thursday. Jay Mir, president and CEO of American Sports and Entertainment Group, said the tournament, to be called the American Premier League, has signed up players from the major cricket nations with the majority coming from the ICL. But the sport's governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), which has not recognized the ICL, has warned its members against taking part in an event which has not, as yet, received endorsement from the USA Cricket Association. “Most of those involved are ex-players and ICL players. Some would be affected (if the tournament was not recognized) but that is the choice of the players,” Mir said. “Sixty to seventy percent of the tournament's players are ICL players.” Mir said former England spin bowler John Emburey, a coach in the ICL, had agreed to be coach of a ‘Premium World' team in the competition with ex-West Indies captain Richie Richardson coaching a Caribbean XI. The ‘Premium World' team is made up of players from England, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka said Mir, who declined to name any of those contracted. He added, however, that former New Zealand all-rounder Richard Hadlee has signed up as an ‘executive board member' of the event and former Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq has agreed to play. The ICC issued a memo to members last week, a copy of which has been received by Reuters, which warns against involvement in the American venture. “Members are ... precluded from releasing their players to play in this event until such time as ICC confirms that the event has been approved,” read the memo. It will feature six sides. Teams of Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Americans and West Indians, along with the World team, will play each other once with the top four going through to a knockout stage.
