IPL says no to Pakistan third year running
HYDERABAD: The Indian Premier League’s (IPL) governing council decided against including Pakistan in the next season of the T20 league, according to a report published in NDTV on Friday.
IPL’s newly appointed chairman Rajiv Shukla had earlier said that it will be up to the franchises to take a decision on Pakistan players whether to buy them or not.
Eleven Pakistani players were in the auction list for IPL’s third season in 2010, but none of them were picked up by any of the franchises. Uncertainty over diplomatic relations between the two countries, and hence the availability of the Pakistani players, was cited as the main issue by some franchises.
“This decision has to be taken by the Governing Council. It is not that Pakistan as a country has been banned in IPL,” Shukla had said ahead of the meeting.
“Their (Pakistani) referees’ services have been utilized. Some franchises have taken Pakistani former players as coaches also and supporting staff as well. So it is not that Pakistan as a whole has been banned or something. There is no question of banning anyone.”
However, he had insisted the final decision of picking up the Pakistani players remained with the franchises.
Today, the council upheld the decision to exclude Pakistani players for the third consecutive year.
Earlier this year, Shahid Afridi had called for the inclusion of Pakistani players in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Speaking to the Press Trust of India, Afridi had said that Pakistani players had no problems with playing in India as they had just played a match in the country.
“It is high time Pakistani cricketers also get a place in the IPL. For three seasons, including the current one, we haven’t been a part of the IPL,” said the Pakistan captain.
IPL says no to Pakistan third year running – The Express Tribune
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