The BCCI has announced an "amnesty" for all Indian players associated with the ICL and said they could return to official cricket if they cut all ties with the unofficial private league by May 31. The players who choose to return to the official fold will be eligible to play international cricket after a 'cooling period' of a year, but can play domestic cricket from June 1, when the ICC's new rules on official and unofficial cricket come into force.
It's learnt that other national boards who have banned their ICL players from official cricket are expected to follow suit. The Indian board announced its decision after a meeting of its working committee in Mumbai.
"A lot of cricketers and support staff with the ICL met us and informed us that it was a mistake committed by them in joining the ICL and they want to return to the BCCI," Shashank Manohar, the BCCI president, said. "They will be allowed to play domestic cricket immediately. "
Hemang Badani and Rohan Gavaskar, two of the ICL's leading Indian players, called the BCCI's offer a "positive decision" and good for the players. Badani said that he decide within a week whether to return to the fold.
"Some of us have been stuck with the ICL and not knowing where we are headed cricket-wise, especially after the March programme was cancelled," Badani told Cricinfo. "Some of the ICL money due to us was not coming through either, possibly due to the recession. But mostly some of us were frustrated because there just hasn't been enough cricket for us in the ICL. Of course, we played some good cricket in the ICL but not the quantity we expected."
However, Badani, who plays for Chennai Superstars, said he would weigh his options carefully before taking a decision. "The BCCI's offer is a very good thing because a lot of us, especially the young guys, were in a dilemma about where to go. But I am not going to jump the gun just yet and will take at least a week to take a decision."
Gavaskar, who plays for Royal Bengal Tigers, said he hoped the ICL would not come in the way of players who wish to represent their country.
"It is a positive decision because the BCCI is giving the ICL player an option," Gavaskar told Cricinfo. "If they don't make use of this option they can't blame BCCI in future. Also the ICL had said initially when they were recruiting players that they would not come in the way of a player if he gets a chance to play for the country."