Dhaka: At least 14 leading Bangladesh cricketers, including former captain Habibul Bashar, are set to join the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), according to a local media report on Sunday.
The 36-year-old Bashar confirmed he had been in discussions with the ICL but said he had not signed a contract yet.
"I can say only about myself that I have got the proposal from the ICL and am talking with them. But nothing has yet been finalised," he said.
Bashar has been Bangladesh's most successful captain, having led them to their maiden test win and to 29 one-day international victories.
He is also the country's leading Test run scorer with 3,026.
National newspaper
The Dhaka-based national daily Prothom Alo also linked Mohammad Rafique, Alok Kapali, Shahriar Nafees, Aftab Ahmad, Nazim Uddin, Farhad Reza, Dhiman Ghosh, Manjurul Islam, Tapash Baishya, Mohammad Sharif, Mosharraf Hossain, Mahbubul Karim and Golam Mabud with the ICL.
Seven of those players are currently contracted with the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
Gazi Ashraf Hossain, chairman of the board's cricket operations committee, said he had received letters from six of the contracted players, including Bashar.
"We are examining the contents of the letters and will decide next course of action in an emergency meeting today," he said.
All, apart from Karim and Mabud, have represented Bangladesh in Tests or one-day internationals.
Kapali, Reza and Dhiman were in the Bangladesh squad that played a three-match one-day series against Australia earlier this month.
The newspaper said the Bangladeshi players would all play in the same team, called the Dhaka Warriors.
Players participating in the league have been banned from international cricket by their respective national boards.
