Sport

Surrey ready to risk it with 'rebel' Saqlain

Rebel rebel: Saqlain Mushtaq has played in the ICL
David Lloyd13 April 2012

Surrey are ready to risk Champions League exclusion by playing Indian Cricket League 'rebel' Saqlain Mushtaq in their opening Twenty20 Cup match against Essex at The Oval tomorrow. But Surrey will not be alone in refusing to bow to threats from India. With more than 20 ICL players registered here, most of the 18 counties will insist on putting out their strongest side and then wait to see whether there is a move to bar them from the Champions League in October.

Last year's winners Kent are preparing to pick Azhar Mahmood and Justin Kemp; Sussex will not only stick with Murray Goodwin but have also signed West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Smith as a short-term replacement for injured Mushtaq Ahmed, and Hampshire have signed Australian Ian Harvey.

Cricket's big money-spinning event will start under a cloud after Indian Premier League boss Lalit Modi said: "Any ICL player playing for any team automatically disqualifies that team from taking part in the Champions League."

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