Read joins unofficial Indian league

The former England wicketkeeper, Chris Read, has joined a growing list of English players in signing a lucrative one-year contract with the Indian Cricket League.

Read played in last winter's Ashes but has since been superseded in the international set-up by Matt Prior. Despite being made captain of Nottinghamshire for the 2008 season, he has been given the go-ahead by his county side.

"I spoke to him before he signed the contract and there is no issue at all," Mike Newell, the county's director of cricket, told the Nottingham Evening Post. "He was invited to take part and I imagine it will be a rewarding experience for him as well as financially worthwhile.

"I don't think it will have a huge impact on his workload and him as a player, so I'm quite relaxed about the whole thing. From a Notts point of view, we won't see any huge benefits, but I don't think it will have a detrimental effect either."

There is, nevertheless, a row brewing about the possible sanctions that could be imposed on players who sign up. The Indian board (BCCI) wants anyone who plays for the ICL to be banned, but the ECB is reluctant to go down this route for legal reasons.

However, it appears that players involved with the ICL will be banned from playing in the BCCI's Champions League, scheduled to be held in April next year. That will affect a number of counties as any such ban will also include several Kolpak players.

A report in the Guardian said a further eight cricketers are in line to join the six - Vikram Solanki, Darren Maddy, Paul Nixon, Boyd Rankin, Niall O'Brien and Read - who have already signed.

The Daily Telegraph claimed that Warwickshire had put pressure on Maddy to pull out, but that he was still likely to play. "The view seems to be that nothing can be put into force legally regarding the 2008 Champions League," Maddy said. "So, unless the situation changes before Wednesday, I shall be flying to India." His three-week contract with the ICL is believed to be worth around £50,000.

Mark Newton, the Worcestershire chairman, is quoted as taking a more relaxed line as far as Solanki is concerned. "I personally would never stop anyone earning the best living they can while they can. As long as it doesn't affect his obligations to us, which it doesn't, Vikram is free to join the ICL. With employment laws in this country, stopping Vikram would be a restriction of trade."