Lara wants rebel league backing

West Indies great Brian Lara has called for recognition for the rebel Twenty20 league due to begin in India next week.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has refused to acknowledge the Indian Cricket League and has threatened players with lengthy bans.

"The reaction was expected but still I was disappointed," said Lara, who has signed up to play in the league.

"The intentions are honourable and I hope people will understand what this league is all about and accept it."

Lara will join the likes of England quartet Chris Read, Paul Nixon, Darren Maddy and Vikram Solanki, Pakistan's Inzamam-ul Haq, Sri Lanka's Maravan Atapattu and New Zealand's Chris Cairns in playing in the six-team rebel league.

The league is fronted by India legend Kapil Dev and bankrolled by Zee Telefilms media organisation but the International Cricket Council has also refused to acknowledge the competition.

The BCCI has reacted angrily to the league's formation and plans to launch its own Indian Premier League next April with the likes of Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar taking part.

But despite the controversy, Lara, the highest run scorer in Test cricket, is looking forward to the start of the ICL in the northern Indian city of Chandigarh from 30 November.

"I am looking forward to playing in the league," he said. "I would love to play alongside the young players from India who may not have had the opportunity to play with me and other international players.

"I don't generally watch cricket on television but was glued to the television when India took on Pakistan in the World Twenty20 final.

"Twenty20 a very exciting game and is fun. It has given the authorities a chance to take the game to places not familiar with cricket."

Source: BBC Sport