"Afridi's manager blamed the Indian government for continuing its long-running tensions with Pakistan.
"I'd heard prior to the auction that franchises were being advised not to bid for Pakistani players as the players from Pakistan would not be issued with visas by the Indian government, and that is precisely what has happened," Umar Khan told www.pakpassion.net."
Pakistan stars snubbed in IPL auction - CNN.com
The fact is that the excuses being provided by the IPL bosses don't match the alternate reality Indians want to create here. Availability conditions are the same now as they were before, the Pakistan Hockey team is touring is it not?
So if availability was a concern, then why short list these players and insist that they be included in the auction?