PCB issues gag order to players
The PCB has advised its players to refrain from making any comments on the issue of the Govt banning them from travelling to India to play in the Indian Premier League, reports Anam Arsalan.
The Sindh High Court in Pakistan has suspended the ban imposed on the Indian Cricket League players but their woes are far from over. Chances are that they won’t be able to take part in the tournament that has been scheduled for later this year.
“We have been informed by the foreign ministry today that the situation is not conducive for Pakistan cricketers to travel to India,” Sports minister Aftab Jilani said in a statement on Monday. Speaking to HT on Tuesday, Jilani said, “The decision was taken in view of the forthcoming IPL season.
The PCB had asked us for an opinion on what the government’s stand is as far as sending the players for the tournament is concerned and we in turn referred the matter to the foreign affairs ministry, which advised us against doing so. The decision was basically taken for IPL players, but I feel it will be binding on all sportspersons.”
While the decision may not affect the IPL badly, the same cannot be said of the ICL, which has a strong Pakistani presence.
Apart from having an entire team from across the border, the Lahore Badshahs, several Pakistani players turn out for other ICL teams as well.
“We have not decided anything regarding that. We will wait and see how the things pan out in the next few days and then decide accordingly,” ICL executive board member Kiran More said. “The dates for the Twenty20 tournament have not been finalised yet.”
However, More hoped that the Sindh High Court’s order be made applicable for the national team as well.