Butcher denies India league links

Former England batsman Mark Butcher has quashed speculation that he is to be the latest player to join the lucrative Indian Cricket League.

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

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

"The first I heard was driving to the ground and the Surrey chief executive phoned to ask what it was all about."

Former England captain turned outspoken commentator Tony Greig, who recruited players for Kerry Packer's World Series in the 1970s, is on the executive board of the new Indian Cricket League, along with legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev.

West Indian Brian Lara, who retired from international cricket after the World Cup, has been persuaded to join the new-look league, which will initially be played in Twenty20 format during October and November.

Many of the players signed are either retired or approaching the end of their careers, prolific Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf being the main exception.

Surrey media spokesman Nathan Ross explained to BBC Sport that Greig had misunderstood the position with Butcher.

"It was the fact that Tony Greig had mentioned to someone about it and had assumed that because Mark was with [management company] Athletes1, like a few other players, he was interested," he said.

Ross also confirmed that run machine Mark Ramprakash, another likely target for the ICL, had not yet been approached, and added that Surrey would be unlikely to voice any objections if he, or any of their other players, were to be.

"Anyone who wanted to play would effectively be out of contract so there wouldn't be a lot we could do about it even if we were to oppose it, which at the moment we don't, we don't have a stance," he said.

"It's nothing to do with us it's more of an ICC, ECB thing."

Source: BBC Sport