Yousuf mulls U-turn after IPL threatens legal action

Lahore, Nov 4 (UNI) Mohammad Yousuf's miseries fail to subside and the veteran batsman is now pondering to even cancel his ICL plans after the Indian Premier League (IPL) threatened him of legal action for the breach of contract.

If sources are to be believed, former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq received Yousuf in New Delhi last evening and the two had consultations with legal experts on the latter's concerns with the ICL and IPL.

''It is still not known what the legal experts advised him but an announcement on his joining the ICL could be delayed as he is having a second thought on the whole matter now,'' one source said.

He said Yousuf was completely in two minds and is well aware that the IPL is mulling legal action against him.

''He is aware of all the consequences and if a big name like him gets associated with any league the other one would definitely not like it,'' he added.

The BCCI and IPL officials have made it clear that they would not tolerate anything of this sort and if he joins the rebel ICL the batsman would be dragged to court.

The ICL has already filed a case against him and Yousuf was promised by the PCB that it will help him to fight the battle against the rebel league. But it has been learnt that the Board's poor behaviour with him has forced Yousuf to take a plunge into the ICL.

The source said Inzamam and Moin had mediated between the ICL and Yousuf after the Pakistani batsman approached them earlier this year and told them he was fed up of the way he was being treated in the Pakistan team and also by the fact that the PCB had not kept its promise that it would ensure he can play in the IPL.

PCB legal counsel, Tafazzul Rizvi, who was representing Yousuf in his legal battle against the ICL before the Indian arbitrator and the Mumbai High Court said he was shocked by reports that the batsman had flown to India to join the 'rebel' league.

''I fail to understand what he is trying to do because till just a few days back he was discussing the case with me to prepare for the next hearing,'' Rizvi said.

The ICL had filed the case against Yousuf claiming he took advance money in 2007 for signing a contract with them and then broke the contract without returning the money.

However, Yousuf claimed that he has already returned the money to former Pakistan captain Moin Khan who, he said, was his agent for the ICL.

''The interesting part is that it was due to the efforts of Inzamam and Moin that the ICL management agreed to reopen negotiations with Yousuf and consider him for a contract to rejoin the rebel league,'' the source said.

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