Pak flip-flops again; now, won’t allow players in IPL

The Pakistan Cricket Board on Friday announced that it has revoked all no objection certificates issued to Pakistani cricketers that allowed them to participate in the third season of the Indian Premier League.

Pakistan have officially declared the Indian Premier League non-grata.

HT Image

On Friday, exactly 10 days after the IPL auction in which 11 Pakistan players were put on the block and then snubbed, the Pakistan Cricket Board declared that it would not allow Pakistani cricketers to play in the Indian league. PCB chief Ijaz Butt told HT: “We have scrapped the No Objection Certificates (NOCs) given to all 11 players. We don't want to play in the IPL. It is full stop from Pakistan until and unless the IPL behaves.”

This came after IPL commissioner Lalit Modi told HT that no franchise could make an offer to a foreign player, including Pakistanis, unless it was as a replacement for an injured player for an entire season. He had added that the injury verification process took 2-3 weeks.

Butt said they were 'disgusted' by, first, the auction snub and then, the confusion over Abdul Razzaq's reported invitation to play in this year's tournament.

“The IPL doesn't want us to play, so why should we give the players permission? Just one person going as a substitute for an injured player is an insult to the rest of our players. We have cancelled the NOCs of all 11 players and will only consider (allowing) them if our relationship with the IPL improves.”

Asked if any franchise had sent a genuine written offer to Razzaq, he said: “No, Abdul Razzaq will not go. We are not going to waste our time on the IPL.”