The ICC have banned Brian Lara from using a new bat carrying the logo of an internet betting company.

Lara and team-mates Courtney Walsh and Mervyn Dillon have signed up to use a range of bats designed by Intertops.com Cricket Bat Company.

Lara struck 83 with the bat in the first innings of the Third Test between West Indies and South Africa, but Mike Denness, the match referee, issued a statement barring players from carrying the company logo. That decision has now been backed by the ICC.

"All bat manufacturers who wish to have a logo displayed have to be approved by the ICC," said ICC spokesman Mark Harrison. "This company are not on that list and have not applied to be on it. Therefore they are clearly outside the regulations. They (Intertops) must prove they are a genuine manufacturer of bats."

David Folb, the marketing manager for Intertops.com commented: "We are extremely disappointed with the ruling from the ICC. Intertops.com might be a gaming company but Intertops.com Bat Company is an authentic bat company that is already selling its bats in the United Kingdom.

"When we set out to sign a player to endorse our new bats, we wanted someone who has world renown and would best represent our home region," he continued.

"By signing Brian Lara, we feel that we have signed an agreement with the most charismatic cricket player in the world, one who holds several world records and is a true diplomat for the West Indies.

"We don't think what the ICC has done is legal, and we have top lawyers working on it," he said.

Cricket bat manufacture would appear to be something of a departure for the company who are primarily involved in gambling, and the subsequent publicity will, no doubt, be most welcome.

Meanwhile the BBC have reported that the bats have been made by Alfred Reader, an ICC authorised make.

A spokesman for Reader said: "We were asked by Intertops to make six bats with Reader stickers on them, which we sold to them. We advised them that if they put any other stickers on they should send them to the ICC for clearance. They appear to have chosen to take off our stickers and put on their own."

A loophole in the current legislation means that a company can buy or create a small cricket bat manufacturing business in order to fulfil the criteria laid down by the ICC. Though the business may produce a few bats they need not manage either the quality or quantity to be considered a serious manufacturer.

However, by appearing on the authorised ICC list, they are able to add their own logos to bats made by other companies and advertise their core product, be it cricket related or not.

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