ICL targeting Bond, says report

MELBOURNE, August 26: Indian Cricket League were targeting New Zealand express fast bowler Shane Bond, a report said on Sunday.
The ICL, who have already been looking to sign up Test captain Stephen Fleming, were offering the pace ace a "staggering" sum to play in the unauthorised Twenty20 tournament in India in October-November, 'New Zealand Herald on Sunday' said.
The ICL, bankrolled by Subhash Chandra-owned Essel Group, have already roped in West Indian legend Brian Lara; Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, Imran Farhat and Abdur Razzaq of Pakistan; and South Africa's Lance Klusener and Nicky Boje.
Former Kiwi players Chris Cairns, Chris Harris and Nathan Astle were also reportedly on the ICL radar.
Should he sign, Bond would be the first world class bowler to join the ICL.
The former police sergeant, however, has remained tight-lipped about, the reports said.
Meanwhile, former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe said he expected Fleming to stay with the 'Black Caps'.
The report speculated that Fleming was being offered $440,000 for a season on a three-year contract.
"There's two ways of looking at it. You either have a desire to play for your country, or you look at it (the ICL) as an opportunity to get a retirement package going," Crowe reportedly said.
"I took it he gave up the One-Day International captaincy to focus the rest of his career on Test cricket. I hope that's still the case."