The Indian Premier League (IPL) is to hold a second auction of players today for the eight franchises in its Twenty20 competition as it emerged that cricketers who are being restricted from playing in the “unofficial” Indian Cricket League (ICL), which began a second tournament on Sunday, may seek legal and union advice.

Chris Read, the Nottinghamshire captain, was one of four England players to compete in the first ICL event before Christmas. In the latest issue of The Wisden Cricketer, Read, who is not playing in the present tournament, said he was disturbed by comments from Geoff Miller, the national selector, that ICL players would be banned from playing for England.

“I made a commitment to play in the ICL before any statement was made by the ECB,” Read said. “I would like to play more for the ICL but I still have England aspirations. If I am banned from playing international cricket, or unofficially banned, I would find that pretty harsh.”

Asked if he would consider legal action if his international hopes have been ended by the ICL, Read said: “That would be the natural course to take. I signed my ICL contract in good faith. The ICL was employment for me in the winter. I am a cricketer so I went out to play cricket.”

Since Read spoke to the magazine, the ECB has said that it will not punish players retrospectively but will block the annual registration to play first-class cricket in England of anyone who now plays in the ICL. Were Read to play in the ICL next winter, it would mean a one-year ban from county cricket.

The Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) said yesterday that it had been contacted by several players who were concerned by the ECB's hardline policy. It will also affect any overseas players who have signed up to the rebel league. “Several cricketers have expressed serious reservations about the changes, the rationale for them and the ultimate consequences for players and have asked for the PCA's help and advice,” a statement from the union read. The PCA said it would work with players, counties and the ECB to try to resolve the issue. About 20 players due to participate in county cricket this season are affected.

Eighteen international cricketers, including five of the New Zealand team who beat England at the weekend and Shane Watson, the Australia all-rounder who will play for Hampshire in this year's Twenty20 Cup, will be on auction in the IPL today.

Five of the eight franchises are each allowed to pick three players to keep within quota levels; Chennai, Delhi and Hyderabad are each allowed to make one more purchase and all teams must keep within a spending limit of $5million (about £2.4 million). There will also be a draft of 16 India Under-19 players.

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