DUBAI (AFP) - Cricket's world governing body Saturday rejected an application by a rebel Indian league for "authorised unofficial" status, saying it did not meet its criteria. The application was filed last year by the Indian Cricket League (ICL), which is bankrolled by India's largest media group, the Zee Telefilms, and is recognised by neither the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) nor the International Cricket Council (ICC). "Authorised unofficial" status would have allowed the ICC to sanction ICL matches, but ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said after careful consideration by the ICC's executive board it had been decided to reject the application. After "looking at the criteria for approving any cricket as unofficial, the majority of the members supported its rejection," said Lorgat. Top players from 10 ICC member countries took part in the two editions of the ICL, in 2007 and 2008. Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq led a strong 21-man squad, which weakened the selection available for national selection after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) barred the players from domestic and international cricket. The ICL last week hit out at the ICC, saying it was frustrated at the ICC's delay in granting it recognition, and threatened to take the matter to the court if its application was rejected. The ICC has made several attempts to broker a deal between the BCCI and the ICL but none was successful. Asked about the legal implications of the decision, Lorgat said: "If it becomes a legal action we will take it as it comes and will not make any comments on that. "In relation to the possibility of ICL players returning to official cricket, the board reiterated to member countries the importance of protecting the game. A clear message needed to be sent that the players could not swap between official and unofficial cricket." Lorgat added that "the future of the ICL players depends on the boards of their countries and they have to decide about it." However, earlier this month, the PCB included three ICL players - Abdul Razzaq, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Imran Nazir - in a preliminary squad for the Twenty20 World Cup in England in June, but dropped them the next day. The PCB said it had included the ICL players subject to ICC clearance, which they did not get.