BCCI bosses may have scoffed at the ICL as "veterans cricket" but there is no doubt that they are rattled as former Indian players continue to jump ship and some big international players are already on board or nearly there.

Among those from India who have joined ICL are former skipper Kapil Dev, Kiran More, Sandeep Patil, Madan Lal and Balwinder Singh Sandhu while West Indian batting legend Brian Lara, too, has signed for the series.

Some current and former Pakistan players are also being linked to the league.

However, now the BCCI has moved in to protect its most valuable asset - currently active Indian cricketers and with a stark threat.

"Our stand is very clear. Players who take part in the ICL will never be eligible to play for the country again. It is up to the players to decide what they want to do," Shah said in Mumbai on Friday.

The prospect of never playing for India again is sure to scare off any player who chooses to sign up with the ICL and there is little doubt that this will make it tougher for the league to rope in current Indian players which is something it desperately needs to gain a measure of legitimacy

While one battle rages on, the endgame is near in another one. Kapil Dev, who had said on Thursday that the BCCI is scared of the ICL, now faces the axe from the BCCI as Chairman of the National Cricket Academy.

"Though BCCI gave Kapil Dev the position in the NCA, It looks like he is busy in other activities," BCCI President Sharad Pawar said on Friday.

Now there is little doubt now that this is an all-out war with a lot at stake both for the BCCI and the ICL.