Bangladesh's Rafique ponders ICL invitation

DHAKA, Sep 13 (Reuters) Bangladesh spinner Mohammad Rafique is considering an offer to play in the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), a leading Dhaka newspaper reported today.

''I got a phone call from Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Yousuf recently. He wanted to know whether I was interested in the competetion or not,'' Rafique was quoted as saying by the Prothom Alo daily.

''He (Yousuf) asked me to call back if I am really interested,'' the left-armer, who was not immediateley available for comment, added.

Recently voted by the International Cricket Council test player of the year, Yousuf is one of the four high profile Pakistani cricketers to have joined the rebel Twenty20 league due to start next month.

The multi-million dollar series is being funded by Zee Telefilms and features six teams containing four leading international players per side.

The 37-year-old Rafique, who is nursing an injury and opted out of this month's Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa, said he would contact Yousuf and the ICL once he regained fitness, the daily added.

''I only have a few years left for my international career.

Naturally it is time for me to think about my future,'' Rafique said.

Rafique, a veteran of 125 one-day internationals and 31 tests, is the only Bangladeshi cricketer to have taken more than 100 wickets in ODIs.

He has 125 one-day wickets and 94 in tests.

REUTERS BJR KP1301