ICL restrained from taking BCCI to UK courts

The defunct Indian Cricket League suffered a setback when the Delhi high court restrained the rebel Twenty20 venture from filing a suit seeking damages from the Board of Control for Cricket in India in British courts.

"In a suit filed by the BCCI before the Delhi high court for an anti-suit injunction against Essel Sports Pvt. Ltd. (Indian Cricket League), the Delhi High Court today held that the attempt of Essel Sports (ICL) to file a suit in the Courts of the U.K. against the BCCI, when a suit by Essel was already pending in the Delhi High Court based on similar causes of action, was 'unconscionable'," read a statement from the BCCI.

"The court confirmed its earlier order of December 7, 2009, restraining Essel Sports from filing a suit in the Courts of the UK against the BCCI," it added.

The Essel group has sought damages from the BCCI, the ICC and the England and Wales Cricket Board for ostracising the Indian Cricket League.

"Essel Sports (ICL) through its English solicitors had sent a legal notice threatening to file a suit in the High Court of England and Wales in London seeking various reliefs including restraint orders and damages against the BCCI, the England and Wales Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council for allegedly 'boycotting' ICL," the statement said.

"Essel Sports had earlier filed a suit in the Delhi High Court in August 2007 against the BCCI, Karnataka State Cricket Association and the Union of India, making substantially the same allegations against the BCCI that were made in the recent legal notice threatening to file another suit in England.

"Essel Sports has not obtained any interim relief against the BCCI in the suit which remains pending," added the statement.