Karachi: Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq has admitted that the Twenty20 format of cricket was not as easy as it appeared to the spectators while it had also taken its toll on the fitness of the squad which played in the Indian Cricket League.

"We have learnt that Twenty20 cricket is not as easy as it appears to many people. It is a very tough form of the sport. And I think playing consistent matches in the ICL eventually took its toll on our players," Inzamam, who captained the Lahore Badshah team in the ICL, said on returning home.

"We faced many fitness issues with our players and had to juggle around the combination and that affected our performances," the burly batsman added.

The Lahore Badshah players, who lost to Hyderabad Heroes in the final and also were defeated against the World XI, returned home to a quiet reception with no fans at the airport to greet the players.

"The next tournament is around December and before going there we will be having a proper training and conditioning camp so that we are well prepared for the rigors of Twenty20 cricket," Inzamam said.

He said that it was a good move by the ICL to seek recognition from the International Cricket Council.

Former Pakistan players Abdul Razzaq and Imran Farhat said they were hopeful the ice would break between the ICL and the Cricket Boards and ICC.

"Hopefully this would also result in our cricket board lifting their ban on us from playing domestic cricket. But if they don't then we have no option but to seek legal help," Razzaq said.

Razzaq said he was still keen to resume his Pakistan career which was his first priority.

Inzamam said that the ICL events were a success and they showed how the young Indian players had benefited from playing against and with international players.

"The Indian players kept on improving and eventually they went on to win the World Series independently," he said.

The ICL organisers are said to be contemplating adding teams from Karachi and Colombo in their next league to make it more attractive.

Sources close to the players said they had also got offers to play in a Twenty20 event in Florida in May.

Source : PTI