The ICL lawyers have finally sought official recognition directly from the ICC itself. Makes sense, given that India just beat the World, right? Malcolm Speed says that the BCCI has never officially unrecognized the ICL, so the whole thing is still up for grabs. I wish I knew what the ICL's grand plan is...

"There are two parts to that. Until recently the ICL had never sought recognition from the ICC, so it never asked the question. About ten days ago lawyers acting on behalf of ICL contacted ICC and sought recognition from the ICC," said Malcolm Speed, the outgoing CEO of ICC, on Wednesday during an interaction with reporters.

"We are awaiting advice from our lawyers on that issue and I expect it within the next week or so (after which) we'll respond to the ICL lawyers," Speed added.

"The question is never been asked whether ICC will recognize ICL one way or the other. It's a fairly complicated legal issue and we are taking legal advice," said the ICC CEO who will step down from his post in June.

Jrod is resolutely pesimissitic about the whole thing.

Meanwhile, Suresh Menon has a column on Graeme Smith having cheese and no whine about the Kanpur pitch, the one the ICC will be probing.