Warne 'pissed off' by ICL; may not join league

Sydney, July 31 (UNI) A ''pissed off'' Shane Warne has threatened to pull out from the Indian Cricket League after the organisers wrongly declared that the spin wizard was a certain starter even before the negotiations were over.

ICL's Executive Board chaiman Kapil Dev confirmed to the Australian media recently that both Warne and Glenn McGrath had confirmed their participation in the million dollar Twenty20 tourney.

Warne is said to have signed a three-year deal worth about two million dollars to join the breakaway league but his manager James Erskine has denied the reports and hinted that the bowler is having a major rethink.

''Certainly I am pissed off, and I think Shane is rightly pissed off, that they said he had announced he had signed,'' Erskine was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.

''That's not true. That hasn't gone down well. That shows a lack of organising.'' Warne claimed last week he was keen to play in the tournament backed by the Essel Group.

Erskine also said Warne was wary of not offending Cricket Australia and the ICC, which were not expected to approve the tournament.

UNI