CHANDIGARH, India, CMC:

WITH LESS than a week before the historic Indian Cricket League (ICL) bowls off, there still is no sign of West Indies batting star Brian Lara.

Organisers moved to ease fears last this week when they announced the 38-year-old icon would be in India by Thursday, but he is yet to make an appearance for the inaugural Twenty20 league.

Rumours Lara has pulled out have been trashed by organisers, but with the tournament scheduled to begin next Friday, speculation over a possible Lara pull-out has resurfaced.

ICL chairman, legendary former Indian all-rounder Kapil Dev yesterday again tried to allay fears over Lara's absence.

"My information is that Lara has already left the West Indies and should be heading to India. He is supposed to be playing for ICL," Dev said.

On Friday, however, Dev had adopted a slight difference approach to the issue.

"Just wait for three to four days, everything would be clear about Lara. But for us, we are expecting that he would play for ICL," he said.

Concerns raised

When Lara did not show last week for the start of the preparatory camps, concerns were raised over the player's whereabouts.

Media reports indicated that Lara was in London mulling over his ICL contract and considering a possible pullout.

Last week, he was announced to captain the Mumbai Champs, a team that includes England's Vikram Solanki and New Zealand's Nathan Astle.

Even as Lara's absence made headlines, preparations for the start of the tournament have been in full swing with the finishing touches being placed on stands, floodlights and other facilities.

With organisers in a race against time to complete preparations, Dev remained confident of a smooth launch.

"It is a new-born baby. Things will get into shape. Everything will be in place. We will also learn a lot by organising this tournament," Dev said.