Former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed has ended his contract with the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), preferring to give more importance to a coaching contract offered by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Sources close to the leg spinner said he has returned to Lahore midway through the ICL season.

“He is back in Lahore and apparently he has ended his ties with the ICL as the ECB indicated to him it wanted his complete commitment and time to his role as bowling coach consultant,” one source said.

Mushtaq recently entered into a coaching contract with the ECB and will be working with their spin bowlers in the Test and one-day sides, besides working at the National Cricket Academy.

ECB had indicated to him they would prefer him to cut his ties with the ICL which is not recognised by the International Cricket Council and member boards.

The ICC has also raised objections to Mushtaq’s association with the ECB on ‘moral grounds’ as the leg spinner has been named in a match-fixing inquiry in Pakistan some years ago.

Sources said Mushtaq managed to end his contract amicably with the ICL this season because of the respect his captain and close friend, Inzamam-ul-Haq commands in the ICL.

Mushtaq was part of the Lahore Badshah’s team.

The leg spinner took 185 Test and 166 one-day wickets for Pakistan before he became assistant and bowling coach of the national team under the captaincy of Inzamam and later enjoyed a long stint with English county Sussex.