PCB wants players to feature in IPL

PCB's chief operating officer says India did not respond to queries about the participation of Pakistani players.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wants its players to participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and dismissed the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) claims that it had not contacted the IPL organisers for the purpose.

Pakistani cricketers, who were forced to miss the last two editions of the lucrative tournament, failed to find a place in the list of 416 cricketers lined up for the auction that takes place next month. The BCCI claimed that the PCB had not provided them a list of approved players who wanted to participate, a prerequisite of the tournament. However, the PCB rejected the claims and said that it had, infact, contacted the Indian board.

“We want to see Pakistan players in the IPL,” said the PCB Chief Operating Officer (COO) Subhan Ahmed in his first media appearance in Karachi after taking over the post. “We’ve contacted the BCCI about this but we’ve not received a response yet. The PCB is ready to provide the required documents or the NOCs to ensure the players’ participation”.

Meanwhile, Ahmed added that no player approached the PCB to seek permission to play in the IPL including the ones who were signed up with franchises like fast-bowler Mohammad Irfan, who has a contract with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

Junior teams to revive international cricket

Ahmed also revealed that the PCB had planned to host junior teams from various countries in a bid to revive international cricket in Pakistan.

“It will be a gradual process but it will give countries the confidence about visiting Pakistan. A lot depends on how the security situation stays. We are in talks with the Sri Lankan board as well as other boards including the BCCI for hosting a series as soon as possible.”

‘No wrongdoings in Asian Games’

Pakistan team was cleared of any wrongdoing after it was alleged of match-fixing following a shocking defeat to Afghanistan in the Asian Games semi-final.

“We probed it after the allegations but nothing wrong or suspicious was found after which we closed the matter,” said the COO.

Meanwhile, Ahmed, who was also a member of the fact-finding committee formed to investigate Zulqarnain Haider’s disappearance during the UAE series, said they were awaiting the UK police report.

“Police is investigating the matter and we cannot give any final verdict until the final report is submitted by them. The fact-finding committee report was prepared by forming an opinion through a telephonic conversation so we cannot be sure until the police report.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 26^th, 2010.