Cricket: Mahmood lands IPL contract

All-rounder only Pakistani to be bought; Jadeja goes for $2m.

NEW DELHI:

Azhar Mahmood was the only player from Pakistan to earn a contract in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) when he was bought for $200,000 by the Kings XI Punjab yesterday.

The former all-rounder, who now possesses a British passport and has also qualified to play for England, last played for Pakistan in the 2007 World Cup. Pakistani players have not taken part in the IPL since the inaugural event in 2008.

Meanwhile, young India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was sold for $2 million at the auction, with reigning champions Chennai Super Kings bagging the 23-year-old after an intense bidding war with Deccan Chargers. Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene, bought by Delhi Daredevils for $1.4 million, and India seamer Vinay Kumar, who fetched $1 million from Royal Challengers Bangalore, were the other prominent buys.

However, there were no takers for England’s James Anderson, Graeme Swann, Ian Bell, Matt Prior and Ravi Bopara. VVS Laxman, struggling to retain his place in the Test team, was also unsold.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians player Harbhajan Singh was happy with his team having been able to buy Australia fast-bowler Mitchell Johnson.

“Johnson was a good buy. I hope he’ll be fit to play all the matches,” said Harbhajan. We can explore a lot of options depending on what kind of surface we’re playing.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2012.