‘No objection to IPL participation’

Foreign ministry dismisses political tension played influence.

LAHORE: The foreign ministry said that there was no objection on Pakistan players participating in the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). A spokesman for the Pakistan foreign ministry clarified the impression that the decision to send players is based on political tension between the two neighbouring countries.

Pakistan players were snubbed for the IPL and no one featured in the list of 416 cricketers who were auctioned for the event that starts in April this year.

“We don’t decide on giving clearance to sportsmen on the basis of political tensions between the two countries,” Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit told The Express Tribune. “It sends out a wrong message. Pakistan didn’t have any problems in sending players to India.“We’re only concerned with the safety of our players.”

Meanwhile, despite the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) keenness to send players to India for the lucrative tournament, the players are awaiting a response from the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI).

According to details, The Express Tribune has learnt that the BCCI is reluctant to include Pakistan players while also trimming its auction list from 416 to 350. The auction will be held on January 8 and 9. “First, it’s up to both boards if they want the players to play in the IPL. But the PCB is yet to approach us for any preliminary clearance for the players,” said Basit.

Pakistan players, however, did take part in the inaugural IPL in 2008 before missing out on the 2009 edition due to security concerns in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks. They were then ignored for the 2010 tournament in which most of the players of the 2009 World Twenty20 winning squad were on the auction list.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd, 2011.