Laxman not joining Nottinghamshire

VVS Laxman won't be joining Nottinghamshire as their overseas player because of the county's links with Indian Cricket League players.

Laxman had earlier agreed to sign until the end of the season but the BCCI is refusing to sanction the move after it "advised" its own contracted players not to play for counties with players in the ICL.

Mick Newell, the Nottinghamshire director of cricket, said he had spoken to two other players in line to replace Laxman.

"I've spoken to two players and we need to contact them again if he doesn't come," Newell told BBC Radio Nottingham.

Laxman, currently with the Indian Test team for a three-match series in Sri Lanka, was set to join the county in August as a replacement for Adam Voges, the Western Australian batsman. But the restriction imposed by the BCCI could also affect legspinner Piyush Chawla's plans of joining Hampshire. Ajit Agarkar, the fast bowler, has already called off talks with Worcestershire.

"We thought we'd done a deal with VVS," Newell said, "and we thought we had permission from the BCCI, but somebody's spotted something and now they want to question the whole deal."