Indian cricket's ruling body are to lodge a formal complaint with the ECB over Mushtaq Ahmed's Sussex registration.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are furious that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have issued a No Objection Certificate for Mushtaq, despite his involvement in the banned Indian Cricket League (ICL).

Mushtaq's registration was ratified by the ECB on Thursday and Sussex fully expect to play him when they start their Championship defence on April 16.

The BCCI say they have an understanding' with other Test-playing countries that players who signed up for the ICL cannot compete in domestic cricket.

BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said: "If the news is true that Mushtaq has been given an NOC then we will take up the issue with the ECB since Sussex comes under the jurisdiction of the English board."

The BCCI have already warned that any teams with links to the ICL would be banned from their planned Champions League-style Twenty20 tournament scheduled for October. Details of the event have not been finalised but this year's domestic Twenty20 finalists would be part of an eight-team tournament with £1million first prize.

Sussex chief executive Gus Mackay insists Sussex will play Mushtaq despite the BCCI's stance.

He said: "We have got the NOC and we have clearance from the ECB. It all depends now on what happens in world cricket. Our main priority has been to get Mushy registered."

PCB chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi said an NOC was issued to Mushtaq because he is no longer playing international or domestic cricket in Pakistan. He said: "There is no legal or moral reason to stop someone playing cricket in another country."